Incoming Iranian President and human rights abuses

That this House expresses concern about the selection of known human rights abuser Ebrahim Raisi as President of Iran; notes that he was elected with the lowest turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic in an election marred by undemocratic processes and where moderates were barred from standing; further notes with extreme concern Raisi’s role in a death commission, which forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed in secret thousands of political dissidents; recognises the increasing restrictions placed on those practicing minority faiths and beliefs in Iran, including Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Bahaism and the Sunni branch of Islam; is alarmed by reports of a forced exodus of the Christian community and the warnings of Release International that the persecution of Christians in the country is set to intensify following Raisi’s election; echoes Amnesty International’s call for Raisi to be investigated for crimes against humanity; calls on the Iranian government to repeal its blasphemy laws, which specify that blasphemy can be punished by death for men; and further calls on the Iranian government to release all prisoners held for demonstrating their peacefully-held beliefs and urges the it to allow its citizens’ full religious freedom, including the removal of restrictions that prevent Iranians from choosing their own faith.