Campaign to label ISIS killings as genocide

A campaign to recognise the ISIS massacre of Christians and other minority groups in the Middle East as genocide was launched this week by Britain's largest Christian publisher and broadcaster. Premier Christian Communications has written to church leaders across the UK asking them to support its 'Stop the Genocide' initiative by urging MPs to raise the issue in the Commons and persuading the government that the ISIS atrocities are genocide - as defined by the 1948 UN Convention.

The Christian communications group has also launched a petition to pressure the international community to officially recognise the targeting of Christians as genocide.

An information leaflet features a quote from Lord Alton of Liverpool, a Roman Catholic and former MP.

"If beheading, crucifixions, enslavement, rape, seizure of homes and property, and mass graves does not constitute genocide, it is hard to imagine what does," he says.

In his letter to church leaders, Premier's CEO, Peter Kerridge points out that 75 MPs and peers from all parties - including some cabinet ministers, the former heads of the Armed Forces and MI5 - wrote to the Prime Minister last December, urging him to use his influence to persuade the UN to declare the atrocities to be genocide.

"Once this happens, the perpetrators will know that, if and when they are captured, they will be brought to the International Criminal Court and tried for these atrocities," says Mr Kerridge.

In a further plea to readers of Premier Christianity magazine Mr Kerridge says that now is the time for them to make their voices clearly heard.

"If you and I remain silent, our Christian brothers and sisters will continue to be massacred in great numbers. That's why we must not remain silent anymore."

To sign the petition see: www.stopthegenocide.org.uk/

See also: ICN 10 March 2016 Coptic Bishop calls for killing of populations in Middle East to be declared genocide www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=29603