Declaring it "deplores" the persecution of Baha'is by the Iranian government, Congress passed a concurrent resolution calling for the emancipation of that country's largest religious minority.

The final step in the passage of the concurrent resolution came when the Senate approved its version Nov. 16 by unanimous consent with 12 cosponsors. The nearly identical House version of the resolution passed Sept. 19 by a vote of 393-2 with 29 cosponsors.

"The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the U.S. is pleased that Congress cares about human rights throughout the world," said Kit Bigelow, director of external affairs for the Baha'is of the United States.

"This resolution sends a strong message that the United States Congress regards the ill treatment of Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iran as a significant factor in U.S. foreign policy."

Both Senate Concurrent Resolution 101 and House Concurrent Resolution 415 condemn the government of Iran for issuing a confidential letter ordering the identification and monitoring of Iran's Baha'is.

The resolutions decry recent and intensifying persecution of Baha'is in Iran that has included a state-sponsored anti-Baha'i media campaign; the death of a Baha'i in an Iranian prison who had been accused of apostasy; and continued harassment and detentions.

Senators Harry Reid (Nevada) and Sam Brownback (Kansas) were the original sponsors of the Senate resolution. The original sponsors of the House resolution were Representatives Mark Kirk (Illinois) and Tom Lantos (California).

Since 1982, Congress has passed nine resolutions in defense of the Baha'is.

A committee of the United Nations General Assembly also passed a resolution Nov. 21 condemning Iran's human rights violations, including those against the Baha'is and other religious minorities.

The General Assembly plenary will vote on the resolution in December 2006. If approved, it will be the 19th U.N. resolution since 1985 to express concern about human rights in Iran.