“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.
“We also will continue to offer our prayers for the persecuted,” read the statement.
The vote of 393-0, which is a non-biding measure came on Monday night just days before the State Department is legally mandated by Congress to determine if ISIS mass killing of minorities would be defined as genocide.
“Secretary of State John Kerry is leaning toward making a genocide determination against the Islamic State and could do so as early as this week, when a congressional deadline for a decision has been set,” on March 17, according to AP.
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.
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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via Defense News