Human Rights in Iran

Floor Speech

SPEECH OF
HON. TOM REED
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2011

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the atrocious record of human rights in Iran. Across the Middle East, we have seen a growing pressure for change, with individuals standing up for their right to live free. Yet, Iran remains a theocratic and violently repressive dictatorship.

Iran's opposition Green Movement--reinvigorated by recent protests in the Middle East--has faced brutal suppression, including beatings and arrests. A recent response by the Iranian leadership to a weekly Tuesday protest calling for reforms included a brutal assault on demonstrators. More disturbing, there has been a spike in executions--with the International Campaign for Human Rights estimating more than 90 individuals including political prisoners have been executed over the past two months.

Clearly, any facade of Presidential and Parliamentary elections is exposed through this record of appalling religious and military control and abuse of the Iranian people.

In Iran, there is no freedom of speech, no freedom of the press, no freedom of religion--with life imprisonment or death meted out as punishments for these "crimes."

As Americans, we--along with our international allies--must speak out against these abuses. The United Nations Human Rights Council should appoint a special expert to monitor and document the deterioration of human rights in Iran and I urge this Congress and our Administration to continue to impose and broaden strict U.S. sanctions, including on the companies that provide the technology that enables government monitoring and suppression of dissent.

As a nation, we must support the desire of any people to live free and stand strong against abusive regimes.

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