IS committing genocide against Yazidis — UN Syria panel

United Nations investigators said on Thursday that ISIS is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq, seeking to destroy the ethno-religious group of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes.

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The findings are based on interviews with survivors, religious leaders, smugglers, activists, lawyers, medical personnel, and journalists, as well as extensive documentary material, which corroborate information gathered by the Commission.

“These crimes can not be met with impunity”, said Pinheiro, reminding states of the obligation of the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish actions of genocide. It is essential, that States enact laws against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Commission stated. Genocide has traditionally been associated with state-sponsored mass killings like in the Holocaust or in massacres in Rwanda, but the report says that the term fits when intent exists “in the perpetrator’s mind” that the crimes can destroy a group partly or entirely. It urged parties involved in fighting against ISIS in Syria and Iraq to “take into serious consideration rescue plans” for the Yazidis. The terror group is outlawed in Russian Federation, the United States and in several other countries. “Of course, we regard that as a road map for prosecution, for future prosecution”. “It is time now to start to obtain justice for the victims”.

The International Commission of Inquiry on Syria accused the militant group of seeking to destroy the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq by subjecting them to horrific atrocities.

“The crime of genocide must trigger much more assertive action at the political level, including at the Security Council”, Pinheiro said.

The report says sexual slavery, slave labor, torture, and forced conversions to Islam are the main methods used in the Yazidi genocide.

The report mentions cases of boys over 7 years old captured, taken from their families and indoctrinated, pointing to one instance of a boy being brainwashed by an ISIS commander and ordered to kill his own father.

Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court or an ad hoc tribunal.

The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic released its first report Thursday detailing how the Kurdish ethnic group has been kidnapped, beaten and enslaved by the militant group also identified as Daesh, ISIL and ISIS. “Determinations of genocide need to be made in an objective, responsible way”.

Commission member Vivit Muntarbhorn said IS fighters of multiple nationalities, possibly including Westerners, could be guilty of genocide.