President Trump signed the Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2018 yesterday in the Oval Office. It was passed by the House an Senate unanimously.
According to the White House, the legislation "directs humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery assistance toward ethnic and minority individuals in Iraq and Syria, including individuals at risk of persecution or war crimes," and "directs the State Department to encourage foreign governments to identify and prosecute individuals suspected of committing crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, or war crimes, including members of foreign terrorist organizations operating in Iraq or Syria."
After 2 yrs of hard work by religious freedom advocates, it was a jubilant moment to watch @realDonaldTrump sign HR 390 into law. While a long road is ahead for genocide victims – today's signing reaffirms that they aren't walking it alone. Full statement: https://t.co/TBieT1T7LC pic.twitter.com/6F2u4R6ESL
— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) December 11, 2018
We are delighted #HR390 Iraq & Syria Genocide Relief & Accountability Act of 2018 was signed into Law by President @realDonaldTrump today. On behalf of the Yazidi Community we express our deepest gratitude for the historical action taken by the President. https://t.co/JWeBTRwZx5 pic.twitter.com/r8PKJuLcAW
— Murad Ismael (@murad_ismael) December 11, 2018
Today, @realDonaldTrump signed a bipartisan law championed by the #KofC that will provide relief for genocide victims in Iraq and Syria #ChristiansatRisk: https://t.co/QCP8EoT98G pic.twitter.com/FhOGS6SGg8
— Knights of Columbus (@KofC) December 11, 2018
In March 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry officially announced ISIS was committing genocide against Christians and other minority groups in the Middle East.
"Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control," Kerry said at the time. "Daesh kills Christians because they are Christians, Yazidis because they are Yazidis, Shia because they are Shia. Its entire worldview is based on eliminating those who do not subscribe to its perverse ideology."
Secretary @JohnKerry: Daesh is genocidal, responsible for crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing https://t.co/RzXILVgCyw
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 17, 2016
Townhall has been covering this story for many years and asked the White House about it early on in the Trump administration.
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