Brussels, 04/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 February, the European Parliament urged the members of the United Nations Security Council to “support a referral by the Security Council to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to investigate violations committed in Iraq and Syria by the so-called ISIS/Daesh against Christians, Yezidis and religious and ethnic minorities”, describing the violations as “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes”.
In the joint resolution put down by the Greens/EFA, ECR, ALDE, S&D, EPP and EFDD Groups on the “systematic mass murder of religious minorities” by the so-called ISIS/Daesh and adopted by Parliament, MEPs also call for measures to be taken so that these acts are defined as genocide by the Security Council. They say it is important, too, that the international community provide “protection and aid, including military protection and aid in accordance with international law, to all those targeted”, in particular ethnic and religious minorities, by terrorist organisations in the Middle East, including ISIS/Daesh.
The parties to the conflict must respect the universal human rights and, by all means possible, facilitate provision of aid and humanitarian assistance, Parliament adds, calling for humanitarian corridors to be put in place. It also calls for the competent authorities of the countries supporting ISIS/Daesh and the other terrorist groups to “stop these unacceptable behaviours” by whatever means.
MEPs urge the international community, including the member states of the European Union to “work actively on fighting radicalisation and improve their legal and jurisdictional systems” to prevent their nationals and citizens from joining the ranks of ISIS/Daesh. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)