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SR 02-28-2023 16C City Council Report City Council Meeting: February 28, 2023 Agenda Item: 16.C 1 of 1 To: Mayor and City Council From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services Department Subject: Request of Mayor Davis and Councilmember Zwick that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) titled, “A Resolution of the City of Santa Monica, declaring support for the Iranian American community and the people of Iran, particularly the women of Iran, and a call to action for technology companies to support internet freedom. Prepared By: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk Approved Forwarded to Council Attachments: A. Reso Iran 022823 (002) 16.C Packet Pg. 1603 1 City Council Meeting: February 28, 2023 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS) (City Council Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA, DECLARING SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OF IRAN, AND PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN OF IRAN, AND A CALL TO ACTION FOR TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES TO SUPPORT INTERNET FREEDOM WHEREAS, protests broke out across Iran after a 22-year-old Iranian and Kurdish woman, Mahsa (Jina) Amini, died on September 16, 2022 after being arrested and brutally beaten by the morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code for women; and WHEREAS, protesters have taken to the streets nationwide across Iran and reports indicate that Iranian security forces have used lethal force in killing more than 500 people and arresting more than 18,000 during the demonstrations; and WHEREAS, Iranian women are at risk of suffering brutality and death for perceived violations of a dress code imposed on them by the Iranian state; and WHEREAS, bodily autonomy is a human right whether a woman chooses to wear the hijab or not; and WHEREAS, the Iranian government has also restricted the internet, cutting access to Instagram, WhatsApp and other apps to prevent communication, access to information, and freedom of expression to repress the rights of Iranian citizens, journalists, and human rights defenders; and WHEREAS, the Iranian government has tortured and carried out at least four executions to date of political prisoners without due legal process or representation in 16.C.a Packet Pg. 1604 Attachment: Reso Iran 022823 (002) (5636 : Support for Iranian Americans) 2 order to quell dissent and sow intimidation amongst the Iranian people, which deserves widespread international condemnation, accountability and action; and WHEREAS, on September 22, 2022, the United States Department of State sanctioned Iran’s morality police and seven Iranian officials for alleged human rights abuses; and WHEREAS, on September 28, 2022, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) introduced House Resolution 1397, cosponsored by U.S. Representative Katie Porter (CA-45), condemning the Government of Iran’s murder of Mahsa Zhina Amini and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom; and WHEREAS, on November 24, 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Council held a special session and voted to establish a fact-finding mission to fully investigate violations of human rights and international law, with an aim to establishing accountability; and WHEREAS, on December 5, 2022, State Senator Thomas J. Umberg introduced SRC6 which would proclaim that the legislature stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in their fight for self-determination, their opposition to torture, and their resistance to the oppression of their personal liberties; and WHEREAS, on December 14, 2022, Iran was removed from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women following widespread international condemnation for its attacks on protestors, which was a move supported by certain prominent women’s rights activists in Iran, several Iranian-American elected officials serving in the United 16.C.a Packet Pg. 1605 Attachment: Reso Iran 022823 (002) (5636 : Support for Iranian Americans) 3 States, the Biden administration and thousands of Iranian-American residents who signed a petition in support; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica stands with its Iranian American community members, and the people of Iran, particularly women, who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against an oppressive and corrupt regime. SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica condemns those who have routinely and systematically violated human rights, restricted freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, including the continuing closures of media outlets, arrests of journalists, and censorship of expression in online forums. SECTION 3. We call on the Iranian government and security forces to cease their brutal attacks on those protesting and for a thorough and unfettered investigation from the new UN fact finding mission into the rights violations perpetrated by Iranian authorities, with an aim of full accountability and justice for those engaged in gross violations of the rights of the Iranian people. SECTION 4. We further join international calls on the Iranian government to immediately halt all executions in light of the rampant torture of prisoners and repeated violations of prisoners’ rights to due process, including of those who have been sentenced to death for involvement in the recent protests. SECTION 5. We encourage local technology and business sectors, particularly the many that are concentrated in Santa Monica, throughout California and nationwide to take advantage of the U.S. Treasury Department General License D-2 in order to ensure the 16.C.a Packet Pg. 1606 Attachment: Reso Iran 022823 (002) (5636 : Support for Iranian Americans) 4 Iranian people have access to critical online tools, including anti-surveillance and anti- censorship technology. SECTION 6. We encourage the Biden administration to continue to take proactive steps to ensure that U.S. policies support internet freedom in Iran and counter the Iranian government’s online censorship, surveillance and repression. SECTION 7. We request the Congressional delegation of California use their platforms and offices to amplify the protest movement for justice happening inside of Iran, support legislation to condemn the rights abuses taking place and take other immediate and swift action to hold the Iran government accountable for its human rights abuses without further punishing the Iranian people. SECTION 8. The City Council of the City of Santa Monica stands in solidarity with the courageous people in Iran protesting. SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________ Douglas Sloan, City Attorney 16.C.a Packet Pg. 1607 Attachment: Reso Iran 022823 (002) (5636 : Support for Iranian Americans)