Attest: H. Con. Res. 87-2 States Government's relations with the Government of (B) to encourage other governments to continue to appeal (C) to cooperate with other governments and international organizations in joint appeals and to initiate and support actions by the United Nations and its agencies to promote the protection of the religious rights of Baha'is; and (D) to provide, and to urge others to provide, for refugee and humanitarian assistance for those Baha'is who flee their homelands on account of religious repression. fonnald (Anderson Clerk of the House of Representatives. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES 1606 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE N.W WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009 (202) 265-8830 OFFICE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS August 1991 IRANIAN GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AGAINST BAHA'IS: No Change in Iran's Policies Since Khomeini's Death: There has been no change in Iranian government attitudes or actions toward the Baha'i community. The government continues to deny that Baha'is are persecuted because of their religion, yet many recent official documents state clearly that religious belief is the sole basis for repressive actions against Baha'is. Denial of Civil Rights and Liberties: Iran officially recognizes only four religions (Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism). The Baha'i Faith is not recognized as a legitimate religion but is considered a heresy and political conspiracy, a "tool of Zionism" and "American imperialism." Individual Baha'is are considered "unprotected infidels" or "non-persons" with no legal rights. Baha'is are not allowed to practice their religion: they can not meet as a community, hold community property, maintain places of worship, elect their leaders or organize the elected committees which normally govern the community. Executions: Since the Islamic regime took power in 1979, 197 Baha'is have been executed on account of their religious belief and 15 others have disappeared and are presumed dead. Most of those executed were members of the elected local and national governing bodies of the community. Thanks in part to international pressure, no Baha'is have been executed since December, 1988. Imprisonment: Fewer than 10 Baha'is remain in prison, in contrast to an average of 750 jailed at any time during 1983-1985. A few Baha'is continue to be arrested as others are released from prison. Denial of Government Employment: In the early 1980's the Iranian Government dismissed more than 10,000 Baha'is from positions in government and education and denied pensions to those of retirement age. These Baha'is receive no unemployment benefits. Many were ordered to reimburse the government for salaries or pensions received; those who could not comply were often imprisoned. Except for a few doctors and nurses who were re-hired during the Iran-Iraq war, no Baha'is are now employed in government posts or university teaching. Many official documents dated 1989-1990 state clearly that individual Baha'is are denied jobs or pensions on account of their membership in the Baha'i Faith, often called "the wayward sect." (please see reverse side) Pensions: Most Baha'is dismissed from government continue to be denied pensions, but those who retired before the revolution have been assured that they would receive benefits if they had paid national insurance for ten years. Non-government employment: Throughout Iran, many Baha'is are barred from private sector jobs on account of their religion. In some areas (Marvadasht, Tabriz, Rasht and Rafsanjan) Baha'is have recently obtained work permits. Ration Cards: Although most Baha'is can now obtain food ration books, official documents show that some contir e to be denied ration cards because they are Baha'is. Businesses, Personal Properties: Many Baha'i-owned farms, businesses and other properties were confiscated after 1979. Most Baha'i-owned shops have now been returned. While many business licenses have been renewed, official documents continue to show that business licenses and work permits are denied because the applicant is a Bahaʼi. Denial of Access to Education: After the revolution, all Baha'i students were expelled from universities and many from elementary and secondary schools throughout Iran. Since 1988, Baha'is have been allowed to attend elementary and secondary schools. No Baha'i students have been admitted to universities. Authorities have not responded to applications (submitted in 1989) by Baha'i youth seeking to take national university admission examinations. Where the application form asked the candidate's religion, applicants identified themselves as Baha'is. Denial of Inheritance: According to a decree by Iran's Minister of Justice, an official certificate of successorship is required in order for heirs to inherit land. Only members of the four recognized religions can obtain the certificate. Since the Baha'i Faith is not a recognized religion, estates cannot normally be inherited. Despite this provision, two Baha'i families obtained the successorship certificate in 1990. Denial of Travel Documents: Several Baha'is have been allowed to travel abroad during the past year. Until 1990, most Baha'is could not obtain Iranian passports or exit permits. Baha'i Community Properties Confiscated: All Baha'i Holy Places and administrative properties were confiscated (and many demolished) when the Islamic regime took power. No community properties have been returned. Baha'i burials: Since 1989, Baha'is in most regions have been allowed to bury their dead in Baha'i cemeteries, but burials are still a problem in several localities. A Law-Abiding Minority: Some 300,000 Baha'is, by far the largest religious minority in Iran, comprise less than one percent of the population. Baha'is are required by their Faith to obey their government and to avoid partisan political involvement, subversive activity and all forms of violence. The Baha'i Faith is not aligned with any external movement, government or ideology. Iranian Baha'is seek no special privileges but only the rights to which they are entitled under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants TESTIMONY OF FREDERICK C. CUNY July 30, 1991 Revising the International Humanitarian System: Mr. Chairman I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to testify today on what I consider to be one of the most urgent problems in the field of international humanitarian affairs: the paralysis and inability of the international humanitarian assistance system to meet the needs of disaster victims, refugees and displaced persons. We have seen evidence of this failure in northern Iraq. Were it not for the valiant efforts of the allied military forces and the handful of private voluntary agencies, most of the Kurds would still be sitting in the mountains and dying at alarming rates. But northern Iraq is only one illustration of the problem. In southern Iraq, the United Nations, and the international community in general, were noshows. Had there been a major need in Kuwait, it is unlikely that we would have been able to effectively marshall the required aid. Today, throughout the world, the international relief system is overstretched and breaking down. There is no doubt that the system is overstretched, but problems of manpower and resources can be quickly fixed. The most important problems are with the organizations themselves and the way they operate, and this will be the focus of my testimony. There have been many proposals to improve the system. These include calls for a new Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs to provide executive coordination of the U.N.'s specialized agencies. Others have proposed that a structure be created similar to the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa which was established in 1985 to deal with the African famine. Others advocate that regional coordinators be established for each of the Third World's continents to focus efforts in those regions. In my opinion, each of these proposals would make little difference. The problems we are facing are both systemic and structural. They have to do with mandates, personnel policies, leadership, professionalism and, to be frank, donor neglect. It's easy to beat up on the United Nations, but we must remember that the UN is a reflection of what we've made it. If we are going to bring about true change, we need to address the problem of the entire humanitarian architecture, not simply that of the United Nations, but also the rules and mandates of other international organizations, intergovernmental groups and of the private voluntary organizations. Mr. Chairman, before making my recommendations on changes that need to be made, I think it is important to examine the international system itself, to describe the agencies within the system and explore what they see their roles to be, and then examine the generic |