H. RES. 942
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
September 20, 2006
RESOLUTION
Whereas in 1906, one hundred years ago, the people of Iran rose in a peaceful democratic revolution against arbitrary, despotic rulers;
Whereas the people of Iran chose to confront these rulers with peaceful assemblies of thousands of people in the public spaces of Iran until these rulers received their demands;
Whereas these rulers bowed to the wishes of the people on August 5, 1906, and issued a decree for the convocation of a freely elected assembly, the Majles, to write a democratic constitution;
Whereas the Iranian constitution, written pursuant to the decree of 1906, was a democratic instrument providing for—
the establishment of an independent judiciary;
the establishment of an independent legislature with members directly elected by the people;
socio-political progress, including the separation of religion from the affairs of government; and
the commitment of the government to the territorial integrity of Iran;
Whereas the maneuvering of the imperial powers and a fundamentalist clergy crushed the democratic aspirations represented in the constitution of 1906;
Whereas the Iranian constitution of 1906 has nevertheless remained in the forefront of the aspirations of the Iranian people throughout decades of a long struggle towards progress, civil society, and democracy;
Whereas those ideals were abolished by the clerical-led dictatorship of the Ayatollahs in 1979; and
Whereas August 5, 2006, would be an appropriate day to recognize the centennial anniversary of the Iranian constitution of 1906: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives—
recognizes the centennial anniversary of the Iranian constitution of 1906;
is mindful of the democratic revolution of 1906 that lead to the drafting of the Iranian constitution; and
expresses its profound hope that the people of Iran will once again enjoy a democratic government in the spirit of the Iranian constitution of 1906.
Clerk.