A Maryland Democrat senator prompted anger from Iranian dissidents opposed to the theocratic despotic Iranian regime when he informed them he would stall a bill sanctioning the leaders of the Iranian government for decades of human rights abuses.
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a December 21 email saying he would not move forward with the MAHSA act, writing Iranian-American activist Nick Nikbakht, “At this time, our office will not be moving forward with this bill.”
Today, we received this email from @SenatorCardin ‘s team informing us that they will not be advancing with the #MahsaAct S2626/HR589.
This bill aims to hold the Islamic regime in Iran, the Hamas supporter, accountable for their terrorist activities.
As reported by FreeBeacon,… pic.twitter.com/SZWbTli3K2
— Action For Iran (@Action4IR) December 21, 2023
“Despite the persistent advocacy, multiple meetings, and heartfelt pleas by Maryland constituents who sent letters, we’ve seen no movement from Senator Cardin and, more recently, been informed that they will not be moving forward with the bipartisan human rights bill,” Nikbakht told the Washington Free Beacon.
“Senate Democrats are delaying Israel aid while refusing to sanction Iran, the leading state backer of terrorism and the sworn enemy of Israel, Rep. Jim Banks, the sponsor of the MAHSA Act, (R-IN) told the Free Beacon. “We’re letting our enemies off the hook and leaving our allies in the lurch. It’s a recipe for chaos.”
On September 12, 2023, the House overwhelmingly passed the MAHSA Act, which stated it was to “impose sanctions on the Supreme Leader of Iran and the President of Iran and their respective offices for human rights abuses and support for terrorism.” The Act continued:
On September 16, 2022, a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the detention of the Morality Police after being beaten and detained for allegedly transgressing discriminatory dress codes for women. This tragic incident triggered widespread, pro-women’s rights, pro-democracy protests across all of Iran’s 31 provinces, calling for the end to Iran’s theocratic regime.
In the course of the protests, the Iranian security forces’ violent crackdown includes mass arrests, well documented beating of protestors, throttling of the internet and telecommunications services, and shooting protestors with live ammunition. Iranian security forces have reportedly killed hundreds of protestors and other civilians, including women and children, and wounded many more.
Banks stated, “Days before the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s tragic murder and a week after the Iranian regime arrested her uncle, we have sent a clear message of support to the many victims of the Iranian regime’s repression and to those leaders in Washington who refuse to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its crimes. The U.S. House is unified around the need to sanction Iran for its egregious human rights violations and its support for terrorism. I call on the Senate to immediately take up and pass Senator Rubio and Senator Padilla’s companion legislation and force President Biden to punish the murderers of Mahsa Amini.”
The National Union for Democracy in Iran added, “As the people of Iran continue their movement for freedom and democracy on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s murder, the MAHSA Act is an important step in correcting the record on the Islamic Republic regime in Iran. It is not a partner worthy of engagement, but a brutal dictatorship whose opponents– the freedom-loving people of Iran– deserve America’s solidarity.”
Thank you @Kredo0 I'm one of the activists that met with @SenatorCardin's staff. I received an email from his staff member Ms Habiba Shebita who's father-in-law is in Egyptian prison because he is a prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood and Sen Cardin is advocating for his…
— Hope (@HopeIranian) January 2, 2024