WE WELCOME EU PARLIAMENT ONGOING GENOCIDE RESOLUTION TO THE PEOPLE OF BETHNAHRIN & INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

On Thursday 4th, February, European Parliament adopted a joint resolution recognizing the crime and atrocities against Christian Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people, Yazidis and other ethnic and religious minorities as genocide. Unprecedented decision of European Parliament is clear sign for the urgent need for vulnerable groups in the Middle East region.

Under the patronage of Mr. Lars Adaktusson, Swedish MEP from EPP group, the joint resolution “On the systematic mass murder of religious minorities by the so-called ‘ISIS/Daesh’” clearly state that ISIS is committing genocide against Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people as “Expresses its view that the persecution, atrocities and international crimes amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity; stresses that the so-called ‘ISIS/Daesh’ is committing genocide against Christians and Yazidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities, who do not agree with the so-called ‘ISIS/Daesh’ interpretation of Islam, and that this therefore entails action under the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; underlines the fact that those who intentionally, for ethnic or religious reasons, conspire in, plan, incite, commit or attempt to commit, are complicit in or support atrocities should be brought to justice and prosecuted for violations of international law, notably war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide”.

Since two decades, Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in Middle East region and especially in Iraq and Syria faced killings, destruction, exodus and annihilation and de-population from various and mainly non-state actors. Their respective state never been able to protect them and neither they were priority. Since the arrival of ISIS to the region and following the capture of Mosul and Nineveh Plain, the fate of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people worsened to the point of total extinction from their native, historical lands. Their forced mass exodus, killings and displacement put them in definite danger.

Based on this reality, the unprecedented and courageous decision of European Parliament arrives at the crucial moment for the future of minorities and Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people. We believe that implementation of the resolution by EU, UN and regional powers is urgent and should be taken as priority. It’s time to stand with vulnerable groups and minorities of Middle East. European Syriac Union, ESU will continue to work and follow closely the full implementation of the resolution by the member-states and we encourage all EU members to reach out the minorities in the Middle East. On the other hand, it becomes moral and historical responsibility to the UN to follow and act immediately.

European Syriac Union, ESU welcomes the historical decision of EU Parliament and we extend our deep gratitude for all MEP’s for the brave stand and historical decision. We believe that European Parliament will implement this in short period. Europe of values, freedom, democracy and justice are real forces of the union.