Guest Opinion: Scott Phelps: Baha’is of Pasadena Invite Participation in Congressional Call-In Day

In March of this year, responding to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iranian government reportedly released on furlough tens of thousands of its prisoners. To many imprisoned because of their religion, however, this did not apply. While some 20 Bahá’ís were released on furlough in March, at least 11 were summoned back to prison in May. And in the last several weeks, the regime has accelerated at least 60 long-pending criminal prosecutions of Bahá’ís.

Concerns about the human cost of the pandemic have thus had little effect on the persecution that Iranian Baha’is continue to suffer solely because of their religious beliefs.

In response, we are asking all those who wish to participate across the United States to join in a congressional “call-in day,” centering on resolutions now pending in both houses of Congress condemning this persecution. The resolutions and phone numbers to call are:

• House Resolution 823 (or H.Res.823) in the House of Representatives:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (202) 225-5464
Congressman Adam Schiff (202) 225-4176 (west Pasadena only)

• Senate Resolution 578 (or S.Res.578) in the Senate:
Senator Dianne Feinstein (202) 224-3841
Senator Kamala Harris (202) 224-3553

Such resolutions condemning the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is have in the past enjoyed bipartisan support in both houses of Congress and we believe these will similarly garner broad support.

Please phone your congressional representative and both senators, asking them to support Iran’s Bahá’ís by cosponsoring House Resolution 823 or Senate Resolution 578, if they have not already done so. Please make every effort to call your representatives and senators’ Washington offices on Tuesday, July 28, as a large volume of calls received on one day will increase their impact.

We feel certain this effort will help secure the passage of these resolutions, making it clear to the Iranian regime that its current abuses, including the detention of innocent individuals during a pandemic, are condemned by both houses of the US Congress as a particularly egregious violation of religious freedom and proof enough of its contempt for its Bahá’í citizenry.

We are very grateful for your participation in this effort!

The Baha’i community of Pasadena