Remarks by Raul Ruiz, Member of the US House of Representatives, to the Free Iran World Summit 2023 – July 1, 2023
An excerpt of US Congressman, Raul Ruiz Speech Follows:
I’m here to stand in solidarity with you, the Iranian diaspora who have never given up hope for a free and democratic Iran. I’m here to collectively dream with widows, parents, students, workers, women and girls who have been killed in prison, raped, tortured and poisoned for daring to dream of freedom and equality by a regime that has for too long violated their human rights.
And as a husband and father, it truly breaks my heart to hear the stories of women and girls who are attacked for wanting equal rights and to see what the people of Iran have to go through just to be heard and recognized. For decades, Iranians have been battling with their government to become a democracy to respect their basic human rights. After years of repression, the Iranian people saw this fight catch fire again last year. It caught fire again because of a brave 22-year-young woman named Mahsa Amini, who was arrested in Tehran on September 13, 2022, for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely.
Three days later, like many young men and women arbitrarily arrested, Mahsa tragically died while in custody. Her death triggered protests across Iran. We saw brave Iranians stream out into the streets to show their support in a show of solidarity and courage. Iranian women and girls, men and boys, student and workers courageously taking a stand and saying no more to women living by separate set of rules than men, and no more to being targeted and attacked simply for speaking up and speaking out.
Today, we stand here and applaud your efforts to demand that future around a democratic free Republic of Iran, a democracy that will allow the Iranian people to have their voice, a democracy that
allows the people to hold their government accountable by allowing Iranians to express their grievances through their freedom of speech and protest, a democracy that empowers the people of Iran to vote, allowing them to be a part of the decision making process to better their own lives.
And a democracy that will respect human rights, minority rights and women rights, where everyone’s dignity and rights are respected under the law. And that is why, as a member of Congress, I am a proud supporter of House Resolution 100, which gives the sentiments of the United States Congress and the people of America in support for the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic and non-nuclear Republic of Iran and condemns the violations of human rights.
The Iranian diaspora and the brave Iranian people, especially the women and girls who are risking their lives every day for a free Iran. It is because of your courage, your heart and sheer will that I know one day we will see. A free Democratic Republic of Iran.
The full text of the Mr. Ruiz remarks is at the below link:
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