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Washington, DC - At the urging of the
Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), Congressman Marty Meehan (D-5th/MA)
and Congressman Christopher Shays (R-4th/CT) introduced resolution, H.Res.367, condemning discrimination
and bigotry against Iranian Americans. The resolution is a response to
documented reports of discrimination targeting the Iranian American community,
which, according to civil rights and liberties organizations, has increased over
the past six months. Cosponsors include, Congressman Tom Feeney
(R-24th/FL), Congresswoman Carolyn
Maloney (D-14th/NY), Congressman John
Mica (R-7th/FL) and Congressman Henry
Waxman (D-30th/CA).
The resolution
acknowledges the diversity of the Iranian American community and their
contributions to the social and economic fabric of American society. It outlines
serious concerns over increasing reports of discrimination against Americans of
Middle Eastern descent, including Iranian Americans. These include findings in
the Inspector General's Report of discriminatory enforcement of immigration
laws, arrests followed by detentions for extended periods of time without
charges, denials of access to counsel and abuse by prison guards of nationals of
Iranian origin.
It encourages Iranian Americans to "share their
experiences with local, state and federal elected officials as well as others in
their community to end stereotypes, correct misconceptions and convey instances
of abuse against the Iranian American community." The resolution also, "calls
upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to investigate and vigorously
prosecute crimes committed against all Americans, including Iranian Americans,
that are based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin or
ethnicity."
The introduction of H.Res.367 is a component of the recently
launched Iranian American Know Your Rights Campaign, which strives to educate Iranian Americans of their civil rights
and liberties as well as educate mainstream America on the Iranian American
community. Spearheaded by the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement
(NLSCA), the Iranian American Know Your Rights Campaign comprises a coalition of
national organizations, which include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),
Amnesty International USA, Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) and IAPAC,
with the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) as a collaborator. The purpose
of the resolution is to resonate symbolically to alleviate fear and encourage
Iranian Americans to step forward and share their stories.
Ms. Dalia
Hashad, of the ACLU's Campaign Against Racial Profiling has emphasized the
necessity for the Iranian American Know Your Rights Campaign and H.Res.367.
"Iranian Americans are an integral part of the American community, just as
important and committed to this country as any other group and yet,
increasingly, we are seeing policies and practices that negatively target them.
As with any form of discrimination, criminalizing Iranian Americans, simply
because of their ethnic heritage, only hurts America," said Ms.
Hashad.
To complement the coalition's work, Congressman Meehan and
Congressman Shays have introduced this resolution as a means of protecting the
civil rights and liberties of all Americans, including Iranian Americans.
Congressman Meehan, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, has expressed his
concern over the growing reports of discrimination against Iranian Americans
saying, "civil liberties violations contradict the principles upon which this
country was founded and compromise our ability to establish an effective
counterterrorism policy."
Text of the resolution
follows.
Condemning bigotry, violence, and discrimination against
Iranian-Americans. (Introduced in House)
HRES 367 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 367
Condemning bigotry, violence, and discrimination against
Iranian-Americans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 19, 2005
Mr. MEEHAN (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. MICA, and Mr. FEENEY) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Condemning bigotry, violence, and discrimination against
Iranian-Americans.
Whereas Iranian-Americans serve as government officials, in the military and
law enforcement, working to uphold the constitution of the United States and to
protect all Americans;
Whereas Iranian-Americans are vibrant, peaceful, and law-abiding citizens of
the Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian faiths, or are
non-religious;
Whereas Iranian-Americans have greatly contributed to the social and economic
fabric of American society;
Whereas the United States condemns acts of bigotry, violence, and
discrimination;
Whereas the House of Representatives is seriously concerned regarding the
findings, in the report of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice,
of arrests followed by detentions for extended periods of time without charges,
denials of access to counsel, and abuse by prison guards of nationals of Iranian
origin following September 11, 2001;
Whereas the House of Representatives is seriously concerned regarding the
findings in that report of discriminatory enforcement of the immigration laws,
leading to arbitrary detentions and deportations of nationals of Iranian origin;
and
Whereas the House of Representatives is seriously concerned by the alarming
number of reports of incidents of discrimination and bias-motivated crime
against Americans of Middle Eastern descent, including Iranian-Americans, all
across the Nation in the wake of the tragic events that unfolded on September
11, 2001: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) declares that government leaders and law enforcement personnel
should ensure that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans,
including Iranian-Americans, are fully protected;
(2) condemns bigotry and any acts of violence or discrimination against
any American, including Iranian-Americans;
(3) encourages Iranian-Americans to share their experiences with local,
State, and Federal elected officials as well as others in their community to
end stereotypes, correct misconceptions, and convey instances of abuse
against the Iranian-American community; and
(4) calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement authorities to
investigate and vigorously prosecute crimes committed against all Americans,
including Iranian-Americans, that are based on actual or perceived race,
color, religion, national origin, or ethnicity.
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