[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H887-H889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE GENOCIDE OF CHRISTIANS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous materials on the subject of this 
Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I had the extraordinary privilege of 
being in the room when Pope Francis was given a small cross, a 
crucifix. This crucifix belonged to a young Syrian man who had been 
captured by the jihadis and then given a choice--convert or die--and he 
chose. He chose his ancient faith tradition.
  He chose Christ.
  And he was beheaded.
  His mother was able to recover his body and the crucifix that he wore 
and bury him, and then she subsequently made her way to Austria by 
which this cross came into the possession of the Holy Father.
  This type of incident--the killings, the beheadings, the 
crucifixions, the immolations--occurs day, after day, after day to the 
beleaguered religious minorities of the Middle East--the Christians, 
the Yazidis, and others--who have ancient faith traditions, who have 
every right to be in their ancient homelands as does anyone else.

                              {time}  1515

  This is a genocide. This is a deliberate attempt to exterminate an 
entire set of peoples based upon their faith.
  Mr. Speaker, in the year 2004, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell 
came to the United States Congress and in a committee hearing--the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee--he declared what was happening in 
Darfur in Sudan a genocide. In making that simple declaration, using 
that powerful word, he helped put an end to that grim reality.
  Thankfully, what is happening now that should give the beleaguered 
communities of the Middle East some hope is that there is an 
international coalition developing that has recognized the fact that 
this is a genocide being committed.
  Nearly 200 Members of the United States Congress, this body, have 
signed on and are cosponsoring a resolution that declares this a 
genocide. The International Association of Genocide Scholars has stated 
it as such.
  Others, including the Yazidi community, the United States Catholic 
bishops, Pope Francis himself, Hillary Clinton and Marco Rubio, both 
Presidential candidates, have declared this to be a genocide.
  Genocide is a powerful word. It evokes special meaning. It creates 
the conditions for when there hopefully is inevitably and perhaps 
miraculously

[[Page H888]]

some proper settlement in the Middle East--security arrangements, 
political, economic, and cultural settlement--that the religious 
minorities of that area who once made up the rich tapestry of that 
region will have their rightful place restored and reintegrated back 
into those communities.
  This would give hope again to persecuted peoples. It provides a 
gateway for the discussion of further policy recommendations, for 
instance, that could place people who are being forced to flee under 
the threat of genocide in proximity to where their ancient homeland is 
so that, once stability is restored, they can return and reclaim what 
is rightfully theirs.
  A little while back when the Yazidi community, primarily women and 
children, were trapped on Mount Sinjar, President Obama, to his credit, 
acted quickly.
  The House of Representatives had passed a resolution calling for 
additional humanitarian assistance, and the President, with great 
deliberateness, decided to save their lives. I want to personally state 
that I am grateful for that.
  I represent the largest Yazidi refugee community in America. This is 
an ancient faith tradition that usually enjoyed a quiet and peaceable 
life in areas of Iraq and who began to come under increasing pressure 
during the Iraq war and now are, of course, subjected to ISIL's attempt 
to exterminate them. They were saved by quick action.
  So in an exchange with Secretary Kerry today, I commended the 
administration for that quick action to save the Yazidis and I asked 
the administration to actively consider and call this what it is, a 
genocide.
  When we do so, again we create the conditions not only for which the 
international consciousness on this problem will be raised and other 
international organizations, including the European Union Parliament 
who have spoken to it. Other parliaments around the world have also 
declared this a genocide.
  However, in our complicated times, we rush from urgency to urgency. 
It is difficult to keep the mind focused because the horrors that 
continue to come at us are so extreme we almost get numb to it all. 
Yet, we have to act. In doing so, we can save lives.
  We can reposition and potentially preserve the remnant of the rich 
tapestry of minority voices that are critical to stability in the 
Middle East and are critical to saving civilization itself and stopping 
this grievous assault on human dignity.
  That is why I urged the Secretary to make the declaration of 
genocide. It was a thoughtful exchange, but we will continue to do so.
  I am so grateful to so many of my colleagues who, again, have signed 
onto this resolution that calls it such, a genocide against the 
Christian Yazidis and others.
  I am also grateful to have some colleagues here, including my good 
friend, Congressman Dan Lipinski of Illinois, who has tirelessly spoken 
to the issue of human rights and stood for life, stood for stability, 
stood for justice on the whole spectrum of issues that are facing 
humanity now.
  I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) so that he may 
give us his consideration on this essential topic.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I only have a few minutes this afternoon. 
No matter how busy things get, there has to be time to come here to 
stand up for basic human rights.
  I thank Congressman Fortenberry and, also, Congresswoman Eshoo for 
organizing today's Special Order and for all the work that they have 
done to speak out on this issue of protecting all of those minority 
groups who are under threat, so many murdered, driven from their homes.
  It is very important that we focus the eyes of Congress and the 
Nation on this humanitarian tragedy that is happening in Syria and 
Iraq. I think it is very important. It is really past time, as far as I 
am concerned, but it is never too late.
  We need to stand up and pass H. Con. Res. 75 for this Congress to 
declare that there is a genocide that is going on. The genocide is 
against not just Yazidis, but also Christians, Turkmen, and other 
groups in Syria and Iraq and in the region.
  Since 2013, when ISIL began their murderous march through Syria and 
northern Iraq, the world has witnessed the targeted killing of all of 
these groups that I have mentioned. As I said, we should have done this 
a while ago. The United States should have stood up and declared this a 
genocide.
  Now, it seems there are reports, at least, that the United States may 
be declaring that there is a genocide of the Yazidis. While certainly 
no one is going to downplay that, as my colleague mentioned, we all 
remember what happened with the Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar and the 
quick intervention that helped to save so many lives and the continued 
genocide going on against the Yazidis.
  We don't want to downplay that in any way, but I think it is 
important that we recognize it is not just the Yazidis who are 
suffering from genocide.
  In fact, the State Department's report on International Religious 
Freedom for 2014 acknowledged that ISIL was systematically targeting 
religious minorities it considered heretical and that their abuses 
disproportionately affected religious minorities, with between 100,000 
and 200,000 Christians and an estimated 300,000 Yazidis displaced in 
Iraq.
  Now, these numbers have only gotten greater since that time. In 
Syria, that same report states that ISIL has executed Christians, 
kidnapped priests, and forced tens of thousands to flee across the 
desert or face ISIL's genocidal campaign.
  Leaders across the world, including the European Union Parliament and 
Pope Francis, have recognized that genocide is being committed by ISIL 
against many ethno-religious groups, and the United States must join 
them in condemning these crimes as a genocide.

  Here in Congress, we remain in a critical position to promote 
religious freedom and ensure that it remains a priority in our foreign 
policy.
  That is why I was an original cosponsor of Congressman Fortenberry 
and Congresswoman Eshoo's H. Con. Res. 75, which expresses that 
Congress views the attacks on Christians and other ethnic and religious 
minorities as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and, yes, genocide. 
We must not wait or be apprehensive about speaking the truth.
  The administration and Congress must prioritize religious freedom and 
protect all minorities in the Middle East from the ongoing genocide. It 
should begin here in Congress by passing H. Con. Res. 75. I certainly 
want to ask all of my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this 
resolution.
  Again, we continue to see the horrible crimes being committed in 
Syria and Iraq. We are not here today to say that there are easy 
solutions, that any of this is easy to solve.
  We have to not look away, but we need to look at what is going on in 
Syria and Iraq and call it for what it is, a genocide. It is a genocide 
against a number of groups, including Christians there in Syria and 
Iraq.
  By Congress standing up, it means something. The world takes notice 
when it happens. We must do more. It is our duty to do more to protect 
these people, starting out with this declaration of genocide.
  I want to again thank Congressman Fortenberry for all the work he is 
doing on this issue and many other human rights issues, standing up for 
life itself, which is something critically important that we all must 
do here.
  I thank Congressman Fortenberry for organizing this Special Order and 
for all of his work on this issue.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Lipinski as well 
for his tireless commitment to justice, to human dignity, to human 
flourishing.
  Really, ultimately, that is what this resolution is intended to do, 
to call it what it is, a genocide, in order that there might be the 
proper settlement, when we finally come to the day when there is a 
proper security arrangement in the Middle East, when there is a 
reintegration of the religious minorities who, again, made up the rich 
diversity of the Middle East in a prior time who are critical to the 
ongoing stability of Iraq and Syria and other places.
  I am grateful as well that the gentleman pointed out the 
extraordinary work of our colleague, Congresswoman

[[Page H889]]

Anna Eshoo, a Democrat from California. I am a Republican.
  We have other Republicans here who will speak in a time when Congress 
seems so divided on every issue--again, we have 200 of our colleagues--
in a transpartisan initiative to say that this is unjust, this must be 
stopped.
  By our actions of calling it a genocide, we not only elevate 
international consciousness, but again we create the conditions for the 
proper redress once we come to some proper settlement in the Middle 
East.
  I am so grateful for the gentleman's time and efforts on this behalf 
and for his leadership in Congress. I thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Lipinski.)
  Let me turn to my good friend as well, Congressman Jody B. Hice, a 
new Member of Congress from Georgia, who has shown initiative, 
entrepreneurial endeavor, integrating quickly as an impact player, if 
you will, in the proceedings here in Congress. I am grateful for his 
willingness to speak on this topic, but, more than that, grateful for 
our growing friendship.
  I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice).
  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Eshoo) for bringing attention to this incredibly important issue and 
the absolute carnage that is occurring in the Middle East against 
Christians, Yazidis, and people of other religious faiths and 
minorities.
  You know, the right to practice a chosen religion is a right that I--
and I believe all of us--believe should be universal. Yet, the 
religious persecution, especially by such violent means that is 
occurring now, is absolutely deplorable.
  ISIS has shown its true nature in the treatment of these religious 
minorities. We have all witnessed in recent months the violent 
expansion of ISIS in the Middle East as they have single-mindedly 
persecuted those who adhere to different faiths.
  In fact, those who refuse to convert have been driven from their 
homes, brutally tortured, crucified, raped, murdered, enslaved, and not 
by just few in number. We are talking thousands that fall under this 
horrific scenario.

                              {time}  1530

  The systematic violence of ISIS toward communities of Yazidis, 
Christians, Kurds, Turkmen, whatever it may be, as you have well 
mentioned, goes far beyond war crimes. We are talking absolute 
genocide.
  In looking at all this, it was interesting to me that, when the world 
came together after the atrocities of the Second World War in an effort 
to define genocide, they actually defined it as an actor committing 
certain acts against a designated group with an intent to destroy the 
group in whole or in part.
  ISIS has. They absolutely have the intent to destroy, in whole, 
Christians, Yazidis, and all religious groups throughout the Middle 
East. In fact, their entire propaganda even brags about the abhorrent 
crimes that they are committing, and they show absolutely no signs of 
willingness to stop these atrocities.
  It is clear to me that we have an obligation--not only a moral one, 
but a legal obligation--to prevent these atrocities from occurring. In 
fact, 3 weeks from now this administration must fulfill its own legal 
obligation to make a determination on whether it will name ISIS' crimes 
as acts of genocide or not.
  The time has come. In fact, the time is long past for our Nation and 
our world to officially recognize these crimes by ISIS for what they 
truly are and to commit fully to defeating ISIS. We simply cannot 
ignore this any longer, and we must bring H. Con. Res. 75 to the House 
floor as soon as possible.
  Again, I thank you for yielding this time and thank you for your 
leadership in this regard.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his 
thoughtful commentary and leadership as well on this essential issue. 
In fact, it is not an issue at all. This is an assault on all humanity. 
This is a threat to civilization itself.
  If a group of people can succeed in exterminating another group 
because they have the power to do so, because they do not believe in 
another's religion, they violate that sacred space that is essential to 
all persons and, therefore, the conditions of liberty that are 
necessary for human flourishing.
  This goes beyond the grotesque tragedy in the Middle East. It is a 
call to the entire responsible community of nations to act, to say that 
we will not allow eighth-century barbarism that happens to have 21st-
century weaponry to rule in a land, destroy, kill, maim, and 
exterminate entire groups of people because of their religious 
tradition. It is wrong. It is unjust. If not addressed, all of 
civilization is at threat. That is the core of the problem here.
  I thank you so much for your willingness to spend a little bit of 
time and your leadership on these critical points. Thank you so much.
  Mr. Speaker, again, it is H. Con. Res. 75, House Concurrent 
Resolution 75. It has been introduced here in the House, and there is a 
similar resolution in the Senate. It will be forthcoming in the coming 
weeks. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will be considering this 
resolution soon.
  I am hopeful that, again, with my colleague, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Eshoo), and others, who have shown just extraordinary 
leadership and deep concern and compassion for those who are in need, 
we can continue to build the numbers and make the case to all of our 
colleagues and our government that it is time to call this genocide 
and, by declaring such, again setting the conditions that will be 
necessary to reintegrate people, those who have survived, back into 
their ancient lands for which they have a rightful claim.
  I heard a story recently from a commander who had been in Mosul 
during the height of the Iraq war. Part of their obligation and 
responsibility was to protect the various religious minorities who were 
there. He talked about seeing the very beautiful Christian church that 
was there.
  All the Christians are gone from Mosul. The remaining ones had the 
Arabic letter N, Nun, spray-painted on their door in blood red. That is 
a symbol for the word Nazarene, which some use as a derogatory term to 
Christians. They were told: Convert, leave, or die. Many had to flee 
with whatever they had on their back.
  Of course, we know the horrific stories of those who gave their life 
in fidelity to their faith. This is a systematic attempt to wipe 
certain peoples off the map. It is not fair. It is unjust. It must be 
countered with a worldwide response.
  The designation of genocide is that critical first step, again, 
toward the possibility of restoring some tranquility of order whenever 
there is the right type of security and economic and cultural 
settlement that must come to the Middle East if it has any chance, 
again, to flourish.
  We can lead in this regard. We must lead. Other countries around the 
world have already taken up this banner. As I said earlier, the 
European Parliament has declared it so.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the ability to converse today with my 
colleagues on this threat, this threat to civilization itself, and our 
need to act.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________