House Unites in Support for Iranian Protesters

Adam KredoJanuary 10, 2023

Resolution commends ‘bravery, courage, and resolve of Iranians risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses’

Getty Images Adam Kredo • January 10, 2023 1:40 pm

The Republican-controlled House is rallying around a resolution that expresses solidarity and support for Iranian protesters who are risking their lives to demonstrate against the hardline regime.

The House is poised for Tuesday’s first legislative effort to pass the resolution. This commends “bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 133 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses,” According to a photocopy of the Measure Obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R.N.Y.), is the leader of the resolution, which has the initial backing by 34 members, 22 Democrats included. Sources in Congress who spoke with the Free Beacon According to the resolution, it was introduced informally on Tuesday. It is expected to be passed in the coming weeks by broad bipartisan support. Wide support for these efforts is a signal that Congress is monitoring the protests in Iran closely and will stand with anti-regime dissidents trying to overthrow the hardline regime.

“While the Iranian regime continues to violently crack down on peaceful protests and slaughter its own people, Congress must take a clear and unequivocal stance against this brutality,” Tenney stated that he told the Free Beacon Make a statement. “The United States must support and stand alongside the brave Iranians calling for basic human rights and demanding justice for the murder of Mahsa Amini and countless other innocent Iranians.” Amini is the 22-year-old woman who sparked the protest movement last year after she was murdered by Iran’s morality policy for improperly wearing her head covering.

The measure is a signal the new Congress wants to track and identify human rights abuses carried out by the Iranian regime so it can pursue further sanctions and other measures in response to the Iranian government’s violent crackdown. The measure codifies public information about the number of Iranians who were imprisoned or killed in protests. It also urges the Biden administration to work with international allies. “to impose human rights sanctions on officials and entities that are responsible for the repression of current protests and involved in violating the human rights of the Iranian people.”