Wednesday, September 20, 2006

House Passes Bill Condemning Iranian Regime Tyranny

US Congressman Steve King:
Today the House International Relations Committee passed King’s legislation which highlights the Iranians’ democratic heritage and seeks to fill the hearts of the Iranian people with the desire to reject the bonds of tyranny. The Iranian regime has made the international community nervous recently with the promise of a nuclear proliferation program.

King introduced the legislation last month to mark the 100th anniversary of Iran’s Constitutional Revolution. A panel of five Iranian experts, some on the Cabinet of the former government, then met on Capitol Hill to present the historical background of the democratic revolution of 1906, and discussed the benefit of Iranian freedom to the Middle East, the United States and the world.

Today the International Relations Committee approved the resolution. It now goes to the full House for consideration.

King’s bill, H.Res. 942, aims to inspire Iranians to return to their constitutional democracy. In the summer of 1906, thousands of Iranians, provoked by the corruption and oppression by their rulers, gathered in the public squares of Teheran in silent civil disobedience, intimidating the government with their quiet demand for a democratic constitution and a broadly representative congress. Finally, on August 5, 1906, Mozafaredin Shah issued an edict for the writing of a democratic constitution that would surrender power to the people.

As the current Iranian regime presents a threat to global security, the world must show its support for the Iranian people’s fight for freedom and democracy,” said King.