US Declares IS Atrocities Against Christians as Genocide

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The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed, by a 383-to-0 vote, a bipartisan resolution declaring that systemic violence committed by Islamic State (IS) against Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria constitutes genocide.

The resolution calls on all governments ? including the United States ? to "call ISIL [IS] atrocities by their rightful names: war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide."

The resolution was sponsored by Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska and Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo of California, and had 200 co-sponsors from both parties.

Fortenberry spoke Monday on the House floor, saying the measure rises above partisan politics because IS?s killing of civilians and destruction of churches, temples and monasteries is a threat to civilization itself.

Fortenberry, who said he represents the largest Yazidi community in America in Lincoln, Nebraska, said the resolution is more than just symbolic.

"A genocide designation will raise international consciousness and compel the international community of responsible nations to act, setting the preconditions for the reintegration of ancient ethnic groups and faith traditions into their ancestral homelands," he said.