OUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WO . . . the moral imperative to act in the face of such wanton evil

prominent Christian religious leaders rep- resenting thousands of adherents lamented: This is not just the end of Christianity but the end of our ethnicity who have lived here for thousands of years. We believe this is genocide. They

continued: We do not have

opportunities for education. We do not have opportunities for work. We do not have opportunities for healthcare. What is left for us?

destruction of historic sites of religious and cultural

The Islamic State’s desecration and heritage is unprecedented

in Iraq. In Mosul, IS has turned an 800 year-old house of worship into a place of torture. Another church in Mosul that has existed for 150 years is being utilized as a prison, and yet still another is serving as a weapons storehouse.

minorities

All of the religious and ethnic in

Iraq face this deplorable

place to go and are nearing the precipice of total disappearance. Immediate action including fresh policy and targeted

approaches

assistance is essential if these minority communities are to be protected within their historic homeland.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In addition to the moral imperative to act in the face of such wanton evil, the destruction of ancient faith communities, that, for centuries, have been part of the fabric of the Middle East (and Iraq in particular), has grave implications

for

international security and the prospect of pluralism in the broader Middle East. We propose the

following six

recommendations: First, support the establishment of a

Nineveh Plains Province uniquely designed for Christians, Yazidis and other besieged

forces, given the reality that both fled and abandoned these communities in the face of IS attack.

humanitarian

Third, policymakers and other stake- holders should begin to press the Iraqi central

government and the Kurdistan

Regional Government (KRG) to guarantee that any property confiscated by IS, including homes and places of worship, be returned to its rightful owner once these lands are liberated. Fourth, the KRG’s efforts to build a

context of civil discourse, freedom of religion, human rights protections and the inclusion of all minorities should be strengthened and encouraged. More than any other government entity in Iraq, the KRG has been the most vocal and supportive of these endeavors.

Fifth, ongoing and immediate hu- manitarian aid and assistance is crucial. In addition to supporting the work of

I

reality. Yazidis note that this is the 73rd intentional targeting of their community. What has changed with the Islamic State is the speed and scope by which these religious and ethnic communities are being decimated. The Nineveh Plains had been one of the last relatively safe havens for Christians, Yazidis, Shabak, Turkmen and other minority groups, but with the fall of Mosul and surrounding areas in the summer of 2014, Iraq’s minorities have no

minorities. Despite the horrors they face, the majority of the religious and ethnic minorities want to remain as productive and peaceful citizens within Iraq and their historic homelands.

Second, support the newly created Nineveh Protection Unit (NPU) as a national guard capable of defending the Nineveh Plains Province. The religious and ethnic minority communities no longer trust either the Iraqi army or the Peshmerga

raq’s

minorities have no place to go and are

nearing the precipice of

TOTAL DISAPPEARANCE.

A displaced Christian, living in a converted chicken farm

(Photo courtesy of 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative)

the United Nations, other on-the-ground groups should be funded. Sixth, it is incumbent upon the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the United States Department of State and any other relevant party to use whatever mechanisms are most appropriate to swiftly investigate, document and prosecute the Islamic State and its leadership for crimes against humanity, war crimes and, should it be determined, genocide.

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