Resolution offered by Blackburn, Cassidy supports Iranian protesters

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently unveiled a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that would commend the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran who are demonstrating in more than 80 cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses.

“The courageous women across Iran who are protesting the human rights abuses of the Iranian regime are true heroes and should be honored,” Sen. Blackburn said on Oct. 13. “The horrific murder of Mahsa Amini for simply not wearing a head covering, the violence of the security forces as they do everything in their power to silence those who dare to speak out, and the blacking out of internet and social media across Iran should be a wake-up call to the international community.”

“Iranian women are fighting for their freedom,” said Sen. Cassidy. “A 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was killed by the Iranian regime’s morality police for refusing to wear a head covering. We must stand with the women of Iran as they fight for their rights.”

Senate Concurrent Resolution (S.Con.Res.) 47, which Sens. Blackburn and Cassidy cosponsored on Sept. 29 with sponsor U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ), also would reaffirm the United States’ support for the Iranian protesters.

House Concurrent Resolution (H.Con.Res.) 110 was introduced on the same day by U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).

“The Biden administration must immediately impose additional human rights sanctions on those responsible for the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown, and prioritize efforts to ensure unrestricted internet access in Iran,” added Sen. Blackburn. “My congressional colleagues and I — in a bipartisan, bicameral manner — stand in solidarity with the women of Iran who are courageously fighting for freedom after years of tyranny and abuse.”

Sen. Menendez said he is proud to be joined by his colleagues in introducing the resolution to both commemorate Mahsa Amini — who died on Sept. 16 after being held in custody by Iran’s “morality police,” according to the text of the resolution — and to honor the country’s protesters.

“Iranians must know that we in the U.S. Congress, across the United States and around the world see and honor their bravery and share in their hope for a free Iran that is at peace with its neighbors, as well as its own people,” he said.