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A resolution to support Iranian protestors that was co-sponsored by Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a 415-2 vote today. H.Res. 676 expresses that the House favors “supporting the rights of the people of Iran to free expression, condemning the Iranian regime for its crackdown on legitimate protests, and for other purposes.” The resolution also mentions that more than 1,000 Iranians have been arrested and almost two dozen killed in connection with the protests that began on December 28, 2017.

“The people of Iran have had enough of their corrupt government leadership, and the regime has ignored the needs of its people for far too long” said Latta. “Despite receiving an influx of billions of dollars and sanctions relief from the nuclear deal struck with the Obama Administration, the citizens of Iran have seen no improvement in the quality of their daily lives. Supporting the Iranian people’s ability to peacefully demonstrate without fear of imprisonment or death at the hands of their government should not be a partisan issue.

“While we were assured by the previous Administration that President Rouhani’s government was composed of the ‘moderates’ in the country, they have responded as all previous Iranian regimes have — by restricting civil liberties, violating human rights, and unlawfully detaining or killing their own people. While other countries stay silent, it’s important that the United States speak up loudly against this government crack-down.”

Iran is also the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. The U.S. House passed two bills in December that would seek to stop financial support for Iran’s terror activities and have previously passed additional sanctions to be placed on Iran.

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