IS ‘clearly’ responsible for genocide against Ezidis: US Secretary of State

WASHINGTON, United States (Kurdistan 24) – US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday confirmed the Islamic State (IS) had committed genocide, especially against Kurdish Yezidis (Ezidis).

Tillerson spoke to reporters gathered in the US State Department’s Treaty Room, emphasizing his statement should “remove any ambiguity from previous statements or reports by the State Department.”

“As we make progress in defeating [IS] and denying their caliphate, their terrorist members have and continue to target multiple religions and ethnic groups,” he said.

“[IS] is clearly responsible for genocide against the Ezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims,” the Secretary of State added.

Tillerson highlighted the group’s ongoing crimes such as rape, kidnapping, enslavement, and murder.

“[IS] is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing directed…against Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and other minorities,” the US official stated.

Rumors spread last month that the State Department had removed the term “genocide” from official documents.

The reports prompted a group of six senators to send a letter to Tillerson asking for clarification regarding the department’s stance on genocide committed by the extremist group.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert later clarified the word had “not been removed,” adding Tillerson “firmly believes” IS’ crimes represent genocide.

The Secretary of State underlined the protection of groups persecuted by the militants was a “human rights priority” for the US administration under President Donald Trump.

Tillerson explained the “preferred option” for helping groups targeted by IS was to “allow people to return to their traditional villages” once their areas were liberated.

Since their emergence in 2014, IS has lost a considerable amount of territory in both Iraq and Syria where US-backed forces continue to defeat the group.

Editing by Ava Homa