US Congress Introduces Resolution Condemning State-Sponsored Persecution of Iran's Bahai's

Capitol Hill in Washington (File/AFP)
Capitol Hill in Washington (File/AFP)
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US Congress Introduces Resolution Condemning State-Sponsored Persecution of Iran's Bahai's

Capitol Hill in Washington (File/AFP)
Capitol Hill in Washington (File/AFP)

The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a draft resolution condemning the state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i community of Iran in a bipartisan move.

Voices are mounting in Congress criticizing these violations against the Baha'i community.

The Iranian regime and its affiliated militias, like the Houthis in Yemen, are accused of persecuting the Baha'is.

The draft resolution, introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch, condemns the longstanding state-sponsored persecution of the Iranian Baha'i religious minority and calls on the Iranian government to release the imprisoned Baha'is immediately.

Furthermore, the resolution calls on the US President and the Secretary of State to immediately condemn Iran's continued violation of human rights and calls for sanctions on officials for human rights abuses against the Baha'i community.

The bipartisan resolution also calls on the Iranian government to end its hate propaganda campaign against the Baha'is and reverse state-imposed policies denying Baha'is and members of other religious minorities equal opportunities to higher education, earning a livelihood, due process under the law, and the free exercise of religious practices.

Deutch, who is also the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism, said that the Iranian regime has an "egregious record of human rights violations against its people, including denying freedom of religion and persecuting minorities like the Baha'i."

The resolution was met with solid support from the US Baha'i community.

Director of the US Baha'i Office of Public Affairs Anthony Vance said that Baha'is in Iran are denied essential opportunities such as education and economic advancement on the grounds of their belief.

"We support the resolution and thank Congress for their efforts in defending the rights of our co-religionists abroad."

Vince noted that this is not the first time bills of this kind have been introduced in Congress, and an overwhelming majority usually passes them.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that the Yemeni Houthi militant group is an "entity of particular concern" for violating religious freedoms.

The State Department also included Iran as a "country of particular concern" for having engaged or tolerated violations of religious freedom.

Washington accuses Iran of "exporting anti-Bahaiism to Yemen" and prompting the Houthis to commit violations against the Baha'i minority there.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemned Houthis for summoning 19 Yemen's Baha'is to stand trial on spurious charges and risk lengthy prison sentences.

"We unequivocally condemn the Houthis' latest targeting of Yemen's Baha'i community," said USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin.

Manchin warned that this reckless endangerment of people's lives flagrantly violates freedom of religion or belief.

"The US government must make clear to the Houthis and their supporters that it will not tolerate the systematic oppression of religious minorities."



Israel Asks ICC Judges to Withdraw Netanyahu Arrest Warrant 

A person holds a fake arrest warrant for Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as another holds a Palestinian flag during a demonstration on the Place Stalingrad to protest against the Interior Minister's decision to dissolve the antifascist group Jeune Garde and the Urgence Palestine collective in Paris, on May 6, 2025. (AFP)
A person holds a fake arrest warrant for Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as another holds a Palestinian flag during a demonstration on the Place Stalingrad to protest against the Interior Minister's decision to dissolve the antifascist group Jeune Garde and the Urgence Palestine collective in Paris, on May 6, 2025. (AFP)
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Israel Asks ICC Judges to Withdraw Netanyahu Arrest Warrant 

A person holds a fake arrest warrant for Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as another holds a Palestinian flag during a demonstration on the Place Stalingrad to protest against the Interior Minister's decision to dissolve the antifascist group Jeune Garde and the Urgence Palestine collective in Paris, on May 6, 2025. (AFP)
A person holds a fake arrest warrant for Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as another holds a Palestinian flag during a demonstration on the Place Stalingrad to protest against the Interior Minister's decision to dissolve the antifascist group Jeune Garde and the Urgence Palestine collective in Paris, on May 6, 2025. (AFP)

Israel has asked judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw arrest warrants against its prime minister and defense minister while the ICC reviews Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction over the conduct of the Gaza war.

Documents published on the ICC website late on Sunday also show Israel has asked the court to order the prosecution to suspend its investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in the Palestinian Territories.

The documents are dated May 9 and signed by Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam.

The ICC issued arrest warrants on Nov. 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

The ICC said in February that judges had withdrawn the arrest warrant for al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, following credible reports of his death.

Israel, which rejects the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza, is contesting the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

In April the ICC's appeals chamber ruled that the judges of the pre-trial chamber which issued the warrants must review Israel's objections regarding the court's jurisdiction and the legality of the arrest warrants.

It is not clear what form the ordered review will take and there are no specific deadlines set for decisions on Israel's request to withdraw the warrants and halt the investigation.