Persecution

Kerry: Islamic State committing genocide in Syria, Iraq - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Secretary of State John Kerry called the Islamic State's assault in Syria and Iraq "genocide" on Thursday. 'Daesh is genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology and by actions,' Kerry said at the State Department, referring to IS by another common name in reference to IS slaughter of Christians, Yazidis and Shiite Muslims. [...] Designating IS actions as genocide could prompt a referral by the United States to the United Nations Security Council to establish a tribunal specifically for crimes committed by IS in Iraq and Syria."

Comment: The Islamic State's barbaric attacks on Christians have been well documented and have included beheadings and crucifixion as well as harsh imposition of sharia law, misuse of blasphemy laws and taxes on non-muslims. Christians have been deprived of life, liberty and livelihood under their harsh and repressive rule. Diplomacy often moves at a glacial pace and these offenses have been going on for some time, but it's nice to see these facts acknowledged on the record.