As the March 17 deadline mandated by Congress for the Obama State Department to determine whether a genocide has taken place under ISIS in the Middle East approaches, a new report by the Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians documents the how, why, what, when, and where of the genocide that is, in fact, occurring. The report was reportedly requested by senior State Department officials themselves, who asked for help in making the case that a genocide against Christians was occurring.
In addition to detailing the horrible atrocities against Christians and how what is happening meets the definition of genocide, the report also notes that ISIS has been intent on wiping out other groups too. It outlines how under federal law, those responsible for genocide could be indicted if there is probable cause they have committed the offense. Finding probable cause, which is not too difficult in this case, would give the State Department the ability to report to Congress that it believes genocide has occurred.
The report includes a legal brief submitted by a law professor and several attorneys in private practice which clearly outlines that genocide against Christians has occurred in this case. Attached are multiple witness statements with responses to questions asking for name, gender, why and when the respondent left his or her village, what happened to them, and whether they had been physically hurt. The report also lists over 1,000 Christians killed from 2003 onward, and includes lists of attacks on Christians, Christian martyrs, attacks on churches, a list of Christian and Yezidi sex slaves, and other documents evidencing that genocide has occurred.
This report, which was released this week, is extremely comprehensive and should give the State Department everything it needs to declare that a genocide against Christians has been occurring in this case. We must not only continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being targeted just because they follow Jesus, we must use our voice to ensure Congress pressures the Obama administration to do the right thing and declares this to be a genocide. In addition to triggering our legal obligation to prevent and punish genocide, such a declaration will increase the moral pressure on the world’s conscience to do more to stop what never should have occurred in the first place.
The House of Representatives will vote on Monday, March 14 on H. Con. Res. 75, which names and denounces ISIS violence against Christians, Yezidis, and other ethnic and religious minorities as genocide. If Congress will pass this resolution, it remains with our president to join our representatives, and much of the Western world, in declaring there to be a genocide in the Middle East. We urge everyone to let their elected representatives know they support H. Con. Res. 75. We hope Congress will pass this needed resolution.
