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UN urged to label Isis crimes against Yazidi community as ‘genocide’ UN urged to label Isis crimes against Yazidi community as ‘genocide’
(2 days later)
Killings of minority groups by Isis should be recognised as genocide, a group of more than 60 parliamentarians have said in a letter to the prime minister.Killings of minority groups by Isis should be recognised as genocide, a group of more than 60 parliamentarians have said in a letter to the prime minister.
The call for Cameron to use his influence to persuade the UN to action comes after news of the systematic killing of Syrian Christians and Yazidis, which, if true, would mean that Isis have committed war crimes in Iraq.The call for Cameron to use his influence to persuade the UN to action comes after news of the systematic killing of Syrian Christians and Yazidis, which, if true, would mean that Isis have committed war crimes in Iraq.
The campaign, lead by labour MP Rob Flello and cross-bencher Lord Alton, includes signatures from more than 60 other parliamentarians. The letter, published by the BBC, said there was 'clear evidence of Isis assassinations of church leaders, mass murders, torture, kidnapping for ransom in the Christian communities of Iraq and Syria and "the sexual enslavement and systematic rape of Christian girls and women’.The campaign, lead by labour MP Rob Flello and cross-bencher Lord Alton, includes signatures from more than 60 other parliamentarians. The letter, published by the BBC, said there was 'clear evidence of Isis assassinations of church leaders, mass murders, torture, kidnapping for ransom in the Christian communities of Iraq and Syria and "the sexual enslavement and systematic rape of Christian girls and women’.
The letter called for UN involvement in Iraq by saying the situation was ‘more than just a matter of semantics’:"There would be two main benefits from the acceptance by the UN that genocide is being perpetrated.The letter called for UN involvement in Iraq by saying the situation was ‘more than just a matter of semantics’:"There would be two main benefits from the acceptance by the UN that genocide is being perpetrated.
"First, it would send a very clear message to those organising and undertaking this slaughter that at some point in the future they will be held accountable by the international community for their actions; they will be caught, tried and punished."First, it would send a very clear message to those organising and undertaking this slaughter that at some point in the future they will be held accountable by the international community for their actions; they will be caught, tried and punished.
"Second, it would encourage the 127 nations that are signatories to the Convention to face up to their duty to take the necessary action to 'prevent and punish' the perpetrators of these evil acts.""Second, it would encourage the 127 nations that are signatories to the Convention to face up to their duty to take the necessary action to 'prevent and punish' the perpetrators of these evil acts."
The UN defines genocide as an act with the intent to ‘destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, such as killing members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.’The UN defines genocide as an act with the intent to ‘destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, such as killing members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.’
An explosion rocks Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by the militants of Isis group on a People's Protection Unit (YPG) position in the city center of Kobani, as seen from the outskirts of Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border
An explosion rocks the Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by Isis
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An explosion in the Syrian city of Kobani set off as fighting continues
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Heavy smoke rises following an air strike by the US-led coalition aircraft in Kobani
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An unidentified armed man takes position near a building in the Syrian town of Kobani, as seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
Kurdish fighters walk to their positions in Kobani
Residents of Kobani walk in the streets of the besieged town, as seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
People's Protection Unit (YPG) fighters walk in the Syrian town of Kobani, as seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
People watch the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing, on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
A Turkish soldier stands on a top of a tank as he watches the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing, on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc. Kurdish forces defending Kobani urged a U.S.-led coalition to escalate air strikes on Isis fighters who tightened their grip on the Syrian town at the border with Turkey. A group that monitors the Syrian civil war said the Kurdish forces faced inevitable defeat in Kobani if Turkey did not open its border to let through arms, something Ankara has appeared reluctant to do
Newly arrived People's Protection Unit (YPG) fighters walk in a line in the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border
Heavy smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
Kurdish women mourn at the grave of a relative, who was a Kurdish fighter killed in fighting with the militants of the Islamic State group in Kobani, and was buried at a cemetery in Suruc
Turkish army tanks mechanized units take position on top of a hill near Mursitpinar border crossing in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province
Smoke rises after an US-led air strike in the Syrian town of Kobani. The air strikes pushed Isis fighters back to the edges of the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani, which they had appeared set to seize after a three-week assault, local officials said
A huge plume of smoke rises after an airstrike in eastern Kobani, Syria, behind a hilltop where militants with the Islamic State group had raised their flag on Monday
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Turkish Kurds watch as airstrikes hit Kobani
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Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani as Turkish army tanks take position on the Turkish side of the border
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Military aircraft flies over the Turkey-Syria border as it nears targets in Kobani
Smoke rises after a US-led air strike in the Syrian town of Kobani
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Turkish Kurds, on the Turkey-Syria border, watch over the border at the intensified fighting between Isis and Kurdish forces
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Smoke rises during airstrikes on the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds
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A huge plume of smoke rises after an airstrike outside west Kobani, Syria
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A militant with the Isis group walks in the town of Kobani
Militants with the Isis group, bottom, along with a machine gun-fitted pick up truck, partially seen bottom right, hold positions in Kobani, during intensified fighting with Syrian Kurds
People watch smoke rising from the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, after an air strike
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Smoke rises from a strike at an area of a mosque that destroyed its minaret, in Kobani during heavy fighting between militants with the Isis group and Syrian Kurds
Militants with Isis hold positions in Kobani, Syria, during intensified fighting with Syrian Kurds
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A partial view of Kobani with a mosque's minaret
In 2014 a caliphate was announced in Iraq, which means a state governed in according with Sharia law. Muslims have condemned how Isis have treated people in Iraq and Syria - beheadings, shootings, and even crucifixions have been used to control the population.In 2014 a caliphate was announced in Iraq, which means a state governed in according with Sharia law. Muslims have condemned how Isis have treated people in Iraq and Syria - beheadings, shootings, and even crucifixions have been used to control the population.
The Independent has asked MP Rob Flello for comment.The Independent has asked MP Rob Flello for comment.