Debate on the Systematic mass murder of religious minorities by ISIS during the EP Plenary session (18-21/01) in Strasbourg. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Lars ADAKTUSSON (EPP, SE), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&D, AU) and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

fight against terrorism (T)

WEIDENHOLZER, Josef (S&D, AT)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

ADAKTUSSON, Lars (EPP, SE)

advance of Islamic State (T)

Systematic mass murder of religious minorities by ISIS: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, For centuries countless faiths and ethnicities have lived together in the Middle East, more than in any other parts of the world. And of course the sectarian conflicts have always existed but the diversity has never, never been as vulnerable as it is today. For too long too many actors have fostered sectarian division in a struggle of regional power and this what we are seeing also now.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, In front of terrible atrocities we need more than condemnation, I imagine that you can imagine my frustration that every time we come out with a statement condemning, we have to do that because that is a sign of constant attention that this communities need, but on the other side we all know very well that condemning is not enough. We need concrete support to these people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, We are providing very concrete financial support, European Union and the member states are the leading donors to Syria with over 5 billion Euros in assistance. We have been among the first to provide assistance to the Yazidis and Christians in Iraq, I have visited some of them last year around Christmas and to the Kurds in Kobane

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, We are aware that minority groups in particular the Yazidis have demanded that the crimes committed against them by Daesh are considered genocide.

SOUNDBITE (null), Lars ADAKTUSSON (EPP, SE), Christians in Iraq and Syria on a daily basis are abducted, raped, tortured and forced to flee their homeland. The total number of Christians has dropped dramatically, Christianity with its individuals, tradition and its historical sites are being wiped out. So let's be clear, it is absolutely imperative to stop the Islamic State.

SOUNDBITE (German), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&amp;D, AU), Today we found out that Daesh has destroyed 1.400 year old nunnery near to Mosul, the St Elias church. We must continue this battle consistently and we mustn't give up and we must look at the causes. We have to create condition for democracy, freedom of religion and where other rights are possible.

SOUNDBITE (German), Josef WEIDENHOLZER (S&amp;D, AU), Yazidi women are sold also to countries with which we have trade relations such as Saudi Arabia. For Yazidi Christians ransoms are demanded of 25 million dollar, those ransoms are paid by wire bank transfer.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Yesterday's report by the UNHRC highlighted the details in no uncertain terms and note that such crimes and I quote may in some instances amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and possible genocide. It is time for us now to take action that will remove such a equivocation of labelling these crimes as such and to put pressure on the UNHRC and the P5 to refer Isis and its leadership under the terms of command responsibility to the ICC.