The Senate reintroduced a bipartisan resolution in support of anti-regime protests in Iran just a day after the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was among the group of senators reintroducing the resolution on Thursday, saying in a release that he is proud to be joined by his colleagues in “commending the bravery of these Iranian protesters who have stood their ground against the Iranian regime for more than 130 days and counting.”
HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTION PRAISING ‘BRAVERY, COURAGE, AND RESOLVE’ OF IRANIAN PROTESTERS
The protests, which have garnered international attention and solidarity, followed the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in September. The Iranian government is accused of brutally beating Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating the regime’s conservative dress code.
Hundreds have died in the protests, and thousands more have been detained. The West has condemned executions linked to the protests, as well as the Iranian government’s efforts to restrict internet access.
“In the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini, the Iranian people have bravely protested the regime’s brutality and demonstrated their desire for a more peaceful and free Iran,” Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) said. “In addition to addressing Iran’s dangerous collusions with Russia, the Biden Administration should step up efforts on helping to end the regime’s systematic persecution of women and holding human rights violators in Iran to account.”
Risch and Menendez were joined by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and James Lankford (R-OK), along with 28 other Senate colleagues, in reintroducing the resolution.
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced the resolution on Wednesday and also called on the Biden administration to “do more” to confront Iran. The resolution was passed 420-1, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) casting the lone “no” vote. Ahead of the vote, Tenney called the protests the “most significant popular protest” in Iran since its theocratic regime came to power in 1979.
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad, advisory chair of the Organization of Iranian American Communities, commended the senators “for standing with the courageous protesters in Iran and their call for democracy.”
“As the world watches Iran’s journey to freedom, it [is] imperative to hold the tyrannical regime accountable for its crimes and mass killings. This bipartisan resolution is a reflection of this fundamental principle,” Sepehrrad added.
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Just this week, demonstrations in support of Iranian protesters have occurred in Washington, D.C., Athens, Greece, London, and Toronto.
Misty Severi and David Sivak contributed to this report.
