Lawmakers urge Harvard divestment from Iran

Seventeen U.S. Congress members sent a letter to Harvard University urging divestment from Iran’s energy sector.

“As Harvard University alumni and members of the United States Congress, we support the student-initiated, student-led movement calling on Harvard to divest from holdings in companies conducting business in Iran’s energy sector,” states the letter, which is dated April 23.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Terrorism and Nonproliferation, was among the signatories. Others include Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Jane Harman (D-Calif.).

The letter points out that the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act calls on states, local governments, educational institutions and private institutions to divest from companies in Iran that are associated with Iran’s nuclear industry, and that Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“As one of the preeminent educational institutions in the United States, Harvard University should be at the vanguard of such divestment, as it was in 2007 for divestment from companies affiliated with genocide in Darfur,” the letter said.