U.S. lawmakers voted 393 to 0 last night in favor of a resolution declaring the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to be committing “genocide” against Christians, Yezidis and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
CNSNews.com is reporting on the bipartisan resolution that passed by a unanimous vote in Congress last night. The resolution, known as H. Con. Res. 75, declared that “the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against Christians, Yezidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, one of the bills’ co-sponsors, said he is hoping that “this trans-partisan resolution will further compel the State Department to join the building international consensus in calling the horrific ISIS violence against Christians, Yezidis, and others by its proper name: ‘genocide’.”
At present, the U.S. State Department has not yet designated these crimes against Christians to be genocide, even though they have recognized them as such for other minorities. Secretary of State John Kerry told Congress recently that the department is still studying the situation to be sure it meets with legal requirements for declaring actions to be genocidal. The department has until Thursday of this week to decide whether or not to make this determination.
The Knights of Columbus have spearheaded efforts to have Christians included in the genocidal declaration and are pleased with the outcome of last night’s vote.
“Today’s unanimous bipartisan passing of H. Con. Res. 75, which declares ISIS’ attacks against Christians and other ethnic minorities occurring in the Middle East a genocide is historic and welcome,” said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson.
“This bipartisan vote joins Congress’ voice with those of the majority of American people and of the world. It is a testament to the truth. The question remains: Will the State Department join the rest of the world in calling this what it is–genocide? Or will it undermine the global and national consensus on this issue, signaling to terrorists that we don’t take their crimes as seriously as the rest of the world does?”
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins agreed and commended the House for the unanimous vote while expressing displeasure at the reluctance of the Obama Administration to do the same.
“While condemning and stopping ISIS’ bloody rampage against Christians and other religious minorities is a priority for the House of Representatives and most of the Western world, including the European Parliament, it has unfortunately not been a priority for the Obama administration,” Perkins said.
“President Obama keeps talking about ‘rising above ideology and partisanship.’ Maybe it’s time he took his own advice. More than 200 Democrats and Republicans cosponsored this House resolution addressing an issue it shouldn’t have to: the genocide in the Middle East. If the Obama administration were as ‘appalled,’ ‘horrified,’ and ‘concerned’ about the annihilation of Christians as the White House says it is, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebr.) wouldn’t have had to take the unusual step of addressing the crisis before the president does so.”
He continued: “America has lost its chance to take the lead against ISIS. But regardless of the timing, our national security, vital interests, and essential values demand that we act. While the word ‘genocide’ alone won’t stop the suffering, it will certainly go a long way to sparking a series of mostly non-military actions that can bring help and hope to our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering for nothing more than being identified as followers of Jesus Christ.”
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