John Kerry: ISIS committing genocide in Syria and Iraq

amid mounting global pressure to recognize atrocities committed in Iraq and Syria as a deliberate drive to wipe out certain religious groups

The US has declared that the so-called Islamic State is committing genocide against Christians, Yazidis and Shia Muslims, amid mounting global pressure to recognize atrocities committed in Iraq and Syria as a deliberate drive to wipe out certain religious groups.

US secretary of state John Kerry said that ISIS, known in Arabic by its acronym Daesh, was “genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology and by actions, in what it says, in what believes and in what it does”.

He said: “In my judgment, Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control including Yazidis, Christians and Shia Muslims.”

Last year, speaking about the Middle East, Pope Francis said: “In this third world war, waged piecemeal, which we are now experiencing, a form of genocide is taking place.”