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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions members such as Lloyd Alton Doggett. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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July 20, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. LLOYD DOGGETT
of texas
in the house of representatives
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn the violent repression of musicians. As Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Musicians' Caucus, I express my profound concern regarding reports that Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi has been sentenced by that nation to public flogging for appearing in a musical performance without adhering to government- imposed dress requirements. Reports indicate that her offense was not violence, incitement, but rather the act of artistic expression itself.
vital role that music and musicians play in enriching societies, strengthening cultures, and advancing mutual understanding. While members of Congress may hold differing views on many international issues, we can stand together in support of the principle that creators should never face physical punishment, imprisonment, or violence for creating and sharing their artistic works.
silence musicians, songwriters, composers, and poets whose voices resonate with the public. Authoritarian regimes have often viewed artists as threats precisely because music and creative expression have the unique power to inspire, unite, and give voice to the aspirations of ordinary people. Efforts to intimidate artists through violence are not merely attacks on individuals; they are attacks on cultural expression itself.
dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, to the denunciation and censorship of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich under the Soviet regime, to the repeated imprisonment and violent targeting of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti for criticizing military rule, history demonstrates that the suppression of artistic voices is often an early warning sign of broader assaults on fundamental freedoms. The international community should never become indifferent to such actions.
National Music Council of the United States, the Songwriters Guild of America, the Society of Composers & Lyricists, and others that continue to draw attention to cases in which musicians and music creators face persecution because of their artistic work. Bringing these incidents into public view helps ensure that such abuses do not occur unnoticed.
opposition to the use of violence, intimidation, or physical punishment against musicians, composers, songwriters, poets, and other creators. Regardless of nationality, ideology, religion, or political viewpoint, artists should be free to create and perform without fear of physical retaliation from their governments.
creative voices are threatened by repression and in the hope that cultural expression may continue to serve as a bridge between peoples rather than a basis for punishment.