Congresswoman Tenney Joins Introduction of MAHSA Act to Support Iranian Human Rights Protests

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today joined Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) as an original cosponsor of the Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act, or MAHSA Act, to support Iranian human rights protests. The bill codifies sanctions that originally began under former President Trump.

Specifically, the bill codifies former President Trump’s Executive Order (E.O.) 13876, which sanctioned the Iranian Supreme Leader’s Office and inner circle, and also mandates sanctions under the authorities of E.O. 13553 (Human rights abuses by the Iranian government) and E.O. 13224 (counter-terrorism).

“The Iranian regime’s heartless murder of Mahsa Ahmini once again exposed the reality that Iran’s government abuses and subjugates women,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Furthermore, the brutal crackdown on protestors has shown their disdain for basic human rights and underscores the need for a more permanent sanctions regime against the Iranian government. I am grateful to Congressman Banks for his leadership on this critical initiative.”

Protests have exploded throughout Iran since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested for violating the country’s strict dress codes and later died while in custody. Reports indicate that Amini was beaten before collapsing and falling into a coma. In response to the protests, the regime in Iran has once again violently cracked down on protesters, with at least 233 protestors now having been killed by Iranian security forces. The regime also has triggered widespread Internet blackouts to stop all communications.

Last month, Congresswoman Tenney also introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution, which commends the Iranian people protesting against gross human rights abuses and in support of freedom and urges the Biden administration to continue to impose human rights sanctions, prioritize efforts to expand internet access in Iran, and work to develop a strategy to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining and exploiting facial recognition data and software for the use of mass surveillance and enforcement of mandatory hijab. The resolution now has 40 cosponsors in the House, and the Senate Companion, introduced by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), has 10 cosponsors.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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