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)
TT

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."



UN Names Former British Diplomat Tom Fletcher to Lead Aid Efforts

Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.
Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.
TT

UN Names Former British Diplomat Tom Fletcher to Lead Aid Efforts

Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.
Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday appointed former British diplomat Tom Fletcher as the new aid chief for the world body amid worsening humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip, Sudan and elsewhere, largely driven by conflict.

Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.

Fletcher - who is currently the principal of Hertford College, Oxford - was the British ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2015 and served as the foreign and development policy adviser to three British prime ministers between 2007-2011, the UN said in a statement.

He "has strong experience of leading and transforming organizations and bringing an understanding of diplomacy at the highest levels," the UN said.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said he did not know when Fletcher would take up the role.

The announcement comes as UN efforts to tackle humanitarian needs around the world are significantly underfunded.

The UN has appealed for $49 billion in 2024 to help 187.6 million of the people in need across 73 countries. But the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which Fletcher will lead, said on Wednesday that so far it has only received $16.21 billion.