ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – As the US mulls over whether to designate ISIS massacres in Iraq and Syria as genocide, a State Department official said that Washington’s legal obligations will likely remain unaffected by a decision either way.
The US Congress had given the State Department until Thursday to decide on the designation. But Secretary of State John Kerry said he would miss today’s deadline because he needed more time.
Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson of the State Department, said Wednesday that US obligations would remain unaffected, whether or not the massacres are designated as genocide.
“Acknowledging that genocide or crimes against humanity have taken place in another country would not necessarily result in any particular legal obligation for the United States,” Toner explained.
The US Congress on Monday passed a unanimous saying ISIS is committing genocide against minorities in Iraq and Syria, including against Christians and Yezidis.
“What is happening in Iraq and Syria is a deliberate, systematic targeting of religious and ethnic minorities. Today, the House unanimously voted to call ISIS's atrocities what they are: genocide,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement after the resolution.
ISIS massacre of minorities in Iraq and Syria, particularly against the Yezidi Kurds and Christians, have been labeled as genocide by Pope Francis and the European Parliament.
“The Secretary has urged his team here at the department as well as the broader intelligence community, and even the NGO community, to provide as much information and evidence as possible so that he can make the best decision possible,” Toner said.
“And if this has delayed the process, we believe it’s worth it,” he added.
Kurdish officials and human rights activists have also tried to bring the case to the international criminal court to make sure those responsible are brought to justice.
The US Congress had given the State Department until Thursday to decide on the designation. But Secretary of State John Kerry said he would miss today’s deadline because he needed more time.
Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson of the State Department, said Wednesday that US obligations would remain unaffected, whether or not the massacres are designated as genocide.
“Acknowledging that genocide or crimes against humanity have taken place in another country would not necessarily result in any particular legal obligation for the United States,” Toner explained.
The US Congress on Monday passed a unanimous saying ISIS is committing genocide against minorities in Iraq and Syria, including against Christians and Yezidis.
“What is happening in Iraq and Syria is a deliberate, systematic targeting of religious and ethnic minorities. Today, the House unanimously voted to call ISIS's atrocities what they are: genocide,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement after the resolution.
ISIS massacre of minorities in Iraq and Syria, particularly against the Yezidi Kurds and Christians, have been labeled as genocide by Pope Francis and the European Parliament.
“The Secretary has urged his team here at the department as well as the broader intelligence community, and even the NGO community, to provide as much information and evidence as possible so that he can make the best decision possible,” Toner said.
“And if this has delayed the process, we believe it’s worth it,” he added.
Kurdish officials and human rights activists have also tried to bring the case to the international criminal court to make sure those responsible are brought to justice.
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