US House of Representatives passes bill calling IS actions genocide

On March 14, the US House of Representatives passed a bill officially considering IS attacks against ethnic groups and minority communities as genocide and crimes against humanity.

A source from the US Congress said the bill was easily passed with an absolute majority of 393 votes in favor, expressing the views of US lawmakers on the brutal crimes such as torture and beheading that the IS group has carried out against the Christian community, the Yazidi people as well as other ethnic groups and minority communities.

IS member executes a prisoner. (Source: dailymail)

According to the resolution, the US House of Representatives accused IS of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The resolution called on all governments around the world and international organizations such as the United Nations to take similar actions against the extremist group that is occupying large areas of Iraq and Syria.

On the same day, with a vote of 392 in favor and 3 against, the US House of Representatives also passed a resolution condemning the Syrian Government for its violent actions against its own people. The resolution urged President Barack Obama to direct the US Ambassador to the United Nations to promote efforts to establish a war crimes tribunal in Syria.

Analysts said the move by the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives is aimed at increasing pressure on the Obama administration and its international allies to intensify the military campaign to destroy IS and prioritize the resettlement of refugees from Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said last month that discussions are underway on whether to officially consider IS's violent actions as genocide./.

According to Vietnam+