[ Dear Representative,
On September 16, 2022, 22-year old Mahsa Amini of Iran died while she was in the custody of the country’s “Morality Police” after being detained for improperly wearing a hijab. This was the start of a widespread number of protests in Iran. We first-generation Iranian women and men, old and young, have all been arrested by this “Morality Police” throughout our lives and harassed to different degrees but Mahsa Amini’s death was the final straw for Iranians. This is one of the largest protests in Iran since 2019 and THE LARGEST WOMEN-LEAD MOVEMENT, spreading throughout Iran and now to more than 150 cities worldwide.
The Islamic Republic has constantly posed a threat to global peace and security. As soon as these protests started, Iran’s internet was largely shut down, and from past experiences what that means: more silence = more violence! The Islamic Regime has supported terrorists, oppressed and killed its own civilians. The people of Iran, in and out of the country just want freedom, they are truly fighting to replace this autocratic regime with a democratically elected,secular government. Iranians inside the country are enduring torture and losing their lives to make this happen, especially the brave young girls and boys. It is time for the United States to take a stand against the Islamic Regime and support the IRanian people in their fight for freedom and democracy.
Below are the minimum steps that can be taken by the US Congress.
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Cosigning bill H.R 9203 which includes sanctioning the regime’s Supreme Leader. The president of Iran, and Judiciary and paramilitary apparatus under their command.
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Iranian Mullahs and Elites Act of 2022 or REGIME Act which a bipartisan group of US lawmakers have proposed legislation to refuse visas and revoke any issued to Iranian regime insiders and their families.
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Announcing political sponsorships/advocacy for the imprisoned prisoners whose lives are in danger.
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Calling to release all dissident and arrested protestors and stopping sentencing protests to the death penalty. Currently 2 of the 35 announced have been executed.
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Enforcing sanctions strongly and effectively, blocking the regime’s access to funds, and stopping any deals and negotiations with the regime such as JCPOA.
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Cutting any ties with NIAC (National Iranian American Council), the regime’s propaganda arm as it does not represent the Iranian people.
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Isolating the regime globally by cutting all diplomatic ties and designating the “Islamic Republic” as a terrorist organization.
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Calling on all the US allies to the expulsion of the regime’s diplomats and recalling their ambassadors.
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Assisting and facilitating Iranians’s access to the internet and issuing executive orders to clarify the exclusion of internet equipment as well as medical, pharmaceutical and humanitarian supplies from the sanctions.
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Holding the regime accountable in international courts for the atrocities they committed in Iran.
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Expelling and banning the travel of the regime officials and their families and dependents. ]