Should the House Condemn Iran’s Crackdown on Protests & Support the Iranian People’s Right to Free Expression? (H. Res. 752)

What is H. Res. 752?

(Updated January 18, 2022)

This resolution would express support for the Iranian people’s rights to free expression and condemn the regime’s crackdown on legitimate protests. It would express the House’s solidarity with the Iranian people; condemn the regime’s human rights abuses — including the killings of at least 208 protesters and the arrests of over 7,000; call on all democratic governments to support the Iranian people’s right to live in a free society; demand that the regime respect its obligations in respecting human rights and freedoms of assembly, speech, and press. Additionally, the resolution would call on the administration and companies to take steps to support the Iranian people’s ability to freely express themselves using technology, and for the international community to ensure that human rights violations are part of all multilateral & bilateral discussions with Iran.

As a simple resolution, this legislation is non-binding and wouldn’t advance beyond the House if passed.

Argument in favor

This bipartisan resolution would express the House of Representatives’ support for the Iranian people’s right to free expression and condemn the regime’s crackdown on legitimate protests.

Argument opposed

While it may be bipartisan, this resolution is non-binding and wouldn’t make any tangible policy changes that would punish the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protests or support the people’s right to protest.

Impact

The Iranian people; the Iranian regime; and the House of Representatives.

Cost of H. Res. 752

As a simple, non-binding resolution this legislation would have no cost.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) introduced this resolution to support the Iranian people’s peaceful and legitimate protests against the regime and condemn the regime’s oppression:

“As Iranians from across the country take to the streets to protest their oppressive government, they are met with violence and live fire by Iranian authorities leading to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. The Iranian regime has an infamous reputation for egregious human rights abuses against its own people, including by censoring the internet, restricting both religious freedom and political participation, imprisoning journalists, and torturing political dissidents. Congress stands with the Iranian people. The Iranian government must end its violent suppression of the protests and respect the Iranian people’s right to live in a free society.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) added:

“With this resolution, Congress is sending the strong, bipartisan message to the people of Iran that we support their democratic aspirations and will do everything in our power to hold this regime accountable for its deliberate human rights violations. I am grateful to my colleague Chairman Ted Deutch for introducing this important measure and working together on behalf of freedom and democracy for the people of Iran. The United States must always stand with the people of Iran in their struggle for liberty.”

This resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by unanimous consent and has the support of 30 bipartisan cosponsors, including 18 Democrats & 12 Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) Press Release