Hi John,
Did you see my email from Wednesday? On March 9th, Senator James Risch (R-ID) made a horrible comment about our community:
“ I don’t speak Farsi, if I did I doubt I could use the words ‘good faith,’ I don’t know that they exist because I have never seen good faith on the part of the Iranians. ”
Sen. Risch continues to perpetuate harmful, xenophobic rhetoric in an attempt to rewrite the history of the JCPOA. The fact that: it was the U.S. that quit the deal.
John, can I count on you to call Senator Risch out for his bigoted and simply untrue comments about Farsi and our community? [[link removed]]
Sign your name >> [[link removed]]
I knew I could count on you,
Dr. Assal Rad
Senior Research Fellow, NIAC
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Assal Rad, NIAC
Date: Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 6:36 PM
Subject: Fwd: Senator Risch attacked our community today
To: [email protected]
John –
Just today, in a press briefing led by Senate Republicans intended to mislead the American public on the JCPOA, Senator James Risch (R-ID) made a shameful statement about the Persian language and Iranians at large, saying: “ I don’t speak Farsi, if I did I doubt I could use the words ‘good faith,’ I don’t know that they exist because I have never seen good faith on the part of the Iranians. ” The fact that a senior U.S. Senator can casually suggest that all Iranians are liars, and that there isn't even a word for telling the truth in Persian, is exactly what is wrong with our Iran debate in America.
Earlier this year, we launched our Rights of Iranian Americans Project with a report I wrote on the systematic demonization of Iran and dehumanization of Iranians in U.S. political discourse and media. The report, Othering Iran [[link removed]] , lays out the connection between dehumanizing an entire people and policies that undermine U.S. interests, humanitarian values, and the rights of Iranian Americans. Disturbingly, appalling and racist remarks towards Iranians continue to be used by opponents of peace and diplomacy.
This glaring example of the dehumanization Iranians and Iranian Americans reminds us that blatant bigotry should not go unnoticed, nor should it ever be tolerated. So we are holding Sen. Risch accountable. Join us by adding your name to our open letter to Sen. Risch > [[link removed]]
The language Sen. Risch used is an attempt to rewrite the history of the JCPOA and the fact that it was the U.S. that quit the deal, tarnishing its reputation in the process. For far too long, U.S. officials have employed this kind of rhetoric to make a country of over 80 million people, and those of Iranian heritage, into a villainous caricature.
Sign your name [[link removed]]
We must continue fighting for peace and diplomacy, fair immigration policies, and the civil rights of all Americans. Part of that battle is rejecting this type of racist commentary that says Iranians, and those of Iranian heritage, are somehow by their very nature less trustworthy or unable to act in good faith. Elected officials must be held to account and called out for their actions, and we must stand together against all forms of prejudice. [[link removed]]
Thank you for standing with us.
In solidarity,
Dr. Assal Rad
Senior Research Fellow, NIAC
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