The State of Arizona’s Legislature issued a legislative proclamation statement supporting the people of Iran who have been protesting for their fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly since September 2022. The statement notes that the Iranian people have been deprived of their fundamental freedoms and have been rejecting monarchic dictatorship and religious tyranny. The statement highlights that the American people support the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Republic of Iran. The statement also supports the ten-point plan for the future of Iran presented by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
As the sponsor of this statement, Speaker Ben Toma invited the members of the House of Representatives to join him in standing in solidarity with the people of Iran and supporting their aspirations for a democratic and secular republic government that respects human rights and the dignity of all individuals.
Below is the full text of this proclamation statement, along with Speaker Toma’s remarks.
State of Arizona legislative proclamation statement to support Iranian people’s quest for a free Iran.
Whereas as bipartisan members of the state legislature, General Assembly, or General Court in the United States of America, we are writing to support the people of Iran who have been bravely protesting for their fundamental rights and freedoms in recent years, particularly since September 2022.
Whereas these protests are rooted in the more than four decades of organized resistance against the Iranian dictatorship led by women who have endured torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and death.
Whereas the Iranian people have been deprived of their fundamental freedoms, so they are rejecting monarchic dictatorship and religious tyranny, as evident in their protest slogans. And whereas the Iranian regime has also arbitrarily and brutally suppressed ethnic and religious minorities, including Iranian Kurds, Baluchis, Arabs, Christians, Jews, Baha’is, Zoroastrians, and even Sunni Muslims, and deprived them of their fundamental human rights and has, in many cases, executed them.
Whereas the American people support the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Republic of Iran. This sympathy has manifested in absolute majority support in the US House of Representatives and the 118th Congress for HR 100, where it noted support for the opposition leader Mrs. Mariam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran, which calls for the universal right to vote, free elections and market economy and advocates gender, religious and ethnic equality. A foreign policy based on peaceful coexistence and a non-nuclear Iran.
This Jeffersonian platform righteously deserves the backing of every American. Therefore, Speaker Ben Toma invites the members of the House of Representatives to join him in standing in solidarity with the people of Iran and supporting their aspirations for a democratic and secular republic government that respects human rights and the dignity of all individuals. Dated this 26th day of April 2023.
Representative Ben Toma, Speaker of the House: Thank you all. I had the privilege of joining one of the Free Iran Conferences some years ago in Europe. And to see 100,000 people come to a conference is not a small thing. But I was honored to be there. I was honored to see their passion as they fought for freedom and for human rights. We’re blessed in this country. And they need our support. So thank you all. Thank you.