WASHINGTON—Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday determined that the Islamic State (ISIS) is committing genocide against Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria, as he acted to meet a congressional deadline.
Kerry’s finding does not obligate the United States to take additional action against ISIS militants and does not prejudge any prosecution against its members.
A day after the State Department said Kerry would miss the deadline, Kerry said he had completed his review and determined that Christians, Yazidis and Shiite groups are victims of genocide and crimes against humanity by ISIS militants. The House earlier this week passed a nonbinding resolution by a 393-0 vote condemning ISIS atrocities as genocide.
“In my judgment Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in territory under its control” Kerry said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
