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[Oddduck]

Eight days ago, we had a thread about how Islamic State fighters burned 19 Yazidi girls to death for refusing to have sex with them.

Today, the United Nations released a report that ISIS is committing genocide against the Yazidis in a campaign to "erase their identity" from the world.

GENEVA (Reuters) - Islamic State is committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq to destroy the religious community of 400,000 people through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes, United Nations investigators said on Thursday.

Their report, based on interviews with dozens of survivors, said that the Islamist militants had been systematically rounding up Yazidis in Iraq and Syria since August 2014, seeking to "erase their identity" in a campaign that met the definition of the crime as defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

"The genocide of the Yazidis is ongoing," it said.

The 40-page report, entitled "They Came to Destroy: ISIS Crimes against the Yazidis", sets out a legal analysis of Islamic State intent and conduct aimed at wiping out the Kurdish-speaking group, whom the Sunni Muslim Arab militants view as infidels and "devil-worshippers".

"The finding of genocide must trigger much more assertive action at the political level, including at the (U.N.) Security Council," Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the commission of inquiry, told a news briefing.

At least 30 mass graves have been uncovered, the report said, calling for further investigations.

The four independent commissioners urged major powers to rescue at least 3,200 women and children still held by Islamic State (IS or ISIS) and to refer the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.

Islamic State has tried to erase the Yazidis' identity by forcing men to choose between conversion to Islam and death, raping girls as young as nine, selling women at slave markets, and drafting boys to fight, the U.N. report said.

Yazidi women are treated as "chattel" at slave markets in Raqqa, Homs and other locations, and some are sold back to their families for $10,000 to $40,000 after captivity and multiple rapes, according to the report.

Militants have begun holding "online slave auctions", using the encrypted application Telegraph to circulate photos of captured Yazidi women and girls, "with details of their age, marital status, current location and price"," it said.

"No other religious group present in ISIS-controlled areas of Syria and Iraq has been subjected to the destruction that the Yazidis have suffered," the report added.

Source: Reuters / Yahoo

 

[Erevador]

A clear look at the great evil we will all be up against in the 21st century.

 

[Glasshole]

About eight days ago, we had a thread about how Islamic State fighters burned 19 Yazidi girls to death for refusing to have sex with them.

Today, the United Nations released a report that ISIS is committing genocide against the Yazidis in a campaign to "erase their identity" from the world.



Source: Reuters / Yahoo

Words fail me. Absolutely disgusting. I knew the number was high, but 400'000...

Fuck.

 

[SpaceWolf]

At least 30 mass graves have been uncovered, the report said, calling for further investigations.

Oh my god.

 

[Kalnos]

This has seemed obvious for a while

 

[Sakura]

Didn't Trudeau and his Liberals vote against calling this a genocide or something? Disappointing.

 

[bionic77]

Arab world needs to form a coalition and take them out.

Even though morally we would be in the right to intervene in the region, everytime we have done it has just made the problem worse. Though I really don't trust most of the counties there to do it properly.

It is also sad that I never knew or heard of the Yazidis until someone was trying to wipe them off the face of the Earth.

 

[otapnam]

Words fail me. Absolutely disgusting. I knew the number was high, but 400'000...

Fuck.

It sounds like the total community of yazidis is only 400k not 400k killed so far

 

[Kifimbo]

This has seemed obvious for a while

Unless you're Justin Trudeau.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

We (as in the United States community of nations) need to do more to end ISIS.

 

[ElTorro]

After the Holocaust everybody was keen to proclaim "never again", yet Europe and the rest of the world usually just stands by and watches when things like this happen or are about to happen.

 

[MistakenMobius]

We (as in the United States community of nations) need to do more to end ISIS.

I think I didn't got the memo for the benevolent us invasion.

Also I'm not sure foreign imperialism is the solution

 

[SecretMoblin]

Didn't Trudeau and his Liberals vote against calling this a genocide or something? Disappointing.

Yes.

 

[Palette Swap]

This has seemed obvious for a while

Definitely. I guess the UN needed some time to put it formally, but it's been an obvious reality that these shitheads have been systematically erasing a minority, with a very clear goal of making them disappear.

Edit: seeing that Trudeau vote and the rationale behind it, I guess he'll call it a genocide now.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I know that there is a process and red tape and all that.... But can we skip the 'call for further investigation' part and just jump straight to a 'call for action'?

If you are finding mass fucking graves, I don't think any further inquiries should really be needed.

 

[Daria]

We (as in the United States community of nations) need to do more to end ISIS.

More boots on the ground and more warfare, yippy.

 

[SecretMoblin]

I know that there is a process and red tape and all that.... But can we skip the 'call for further investigation' part and just jump straight to a 'call for action'?

If you are finding mass fucking graves, I don't think any further inquiries should really be needed.

It's the UN. Even a 'call for action' would be toothless unless individual states with actual power are willing to do anything, and as you can see even from this thread the political will for more 'action' is very limited.

 

[Gabriel_Logan]

"Never again" was pretty much bullshit

 

[Erevador]

I think I didn't got the memo for the benevolent us invasion.

Also I'm not sure foreign imperialism is the solution

It becomes increasingly clear that a lot of people who use the word "imperialism" have no idea what it actually means.

 

[darkwing]

but who would be willing to do the groundwork, drones can only do so much

 

[Gnome Scat]

Never Again*

(*When politically convenient)

 

[ClosingADoor]

Disgusting stuff. The part about the slavery and rape, damn...

Can Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria just come together for a little while, go all in, fuck these people up, once and for all clear up this is unacceptable to do in the name of their countries religion and work towards a better future.

 

[toadsworth]

Islamic State has nothing to do Islam. It is the most evil people in the world grouped together doing evil shit. I think what bothers me the most is that the people of Iraq had nothing to do with its inception.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

More boots on the ground and more warfare, yippy.

So not do enough and let ISIS exterminate entire ethnic groups? We probably don't need to send in an army, but more special forces on the ground and evacuations of threatened groups would be a start. The rest of the countries in the Middle East seemingly just care about keeping ISIS out of their borders. We have a responsibility as the foremost superpower being able to project force anywhere in the world in minutes to save lives. The United States is partially responsible for ISIS, we need to put them in the ground.

It becomes increasingly clear that a lot of people who use the word "imperialism" have no idea what it actually means.

.

 

[jelly]

After the Holocaust everybody was keen to proclaim "never again", yet Europe and the rest of the world usually just stands by and watches when things like this happen or are about to happen.

While true, the US and Europe can't always been going in or considering doing something. The Asian and African countries should be steamrolling ISIS and the likes. You could say we caused a lot of the trouble over the years but you need help to stop the spread and root it out for good and coming from other nations might do better.

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

Didn't Trudeau and his Liberals vote against calling this a genocide or something? Disappointing.

Yes and no. From the previously linked article (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-genocide-tory-motion-1.3635632):

"Canada strongly condemns the atrocities committed by (ISIS) in the Middle East, and we stand with our allies in the fight against (ISIS) to make sure they lose the capacity to take so many civilian lives," Trudeau said during question period Tuesday when pressed on why he would not vote for the motion.

The prime minister said the Liberal government has instead formally asked the UN Security Council to decide on whether calling it genocide is appropriate.

"We do not feel that politicians should be weighing in on this first and foremost," Trudeau said.

"Determinations of genocide need to be made in an objective, responsible way. That is exactly what we have formally requested the international authorities weigh in on."

 

[Valhelm]

Islamic State has nothing to do Islam. It is the most evil people in the world grouped together doing evil shit. I think what bothers me the most is that the people of Iraq had nothing to do with its inception.

This is disingenuous. Obviously, the cruelty of the Islamic State is in no way representative of Islam at large, but these men are definitely motivated by Islam as they perceive it.

This doesn't make them any more sane or less evil.

 

[davepoobond]

So not do enough and let ISIS exterminate entire ethnic groups? We probably don't need to send in an army, but more special forces on the ground and evacuations of threatened groups would be a start. The rest of the countries in the Middle East seemingly just care about keeping ISIS out of their borders. We have a responsibility as the foremost superpower being able to project force anywhere in the world in minutes to save lives. The United States is partially responsible for ISIS, we need to put them in the ground.


.

Well you will get your wish with the next president, both are more hawkish than Obama. Although I would guess only one cares about genocide

I don't think there are easy solutions to this. "More" isn't always the answer.

 

[Netherscourge]

ISIS is genocidal by their own admission. They wish to wipe out all people on the planet who are not devout Muslim extremists. Hell, they'll even take out other Muslim sects that don't fall in line completely with their own views.

ISIS are modern-day Nazis, except they are driven by religious fanaticism instead of a secular nationalism.

 

[Daria]

So not do enough and let ISIS exterminate entire ethnic groups? We probably don't need to send in an army, but more special forces on the ground and evacuations of threatened groups would be a start. The rest of the countries in the Middle East seemingly just care about keeping ISIS out of their borders. We have a responsibility as the foremost superpower being able to project force anywhere in the world in minutes to save lives. The United States is partially responsible for ISIS, we need to put them in the ground.

I do agree that we (not specifically US) must stop ISIL, there's no questioning that, but what is it that we realistically can do? If we put special ops on the ground to retrieve endangered groups, where are we going to hold them? Look at the refugee issues in Greece and Europe. If we start bombing main cities that ISIL has captured, we're doing more damage than good again by destroying other peoples homes.

 

[toadsworth]

This is disingenuous. Obviously, the cruelty of the Islamic State is in no way representative of Islam at large, but these men are definitely motivated by Islam as they perceive it.

This doesn't make them any more sane or less evil.

True, I guess it is impossible for me to see their interpretation as Islamic in any way.

NetherScourge said it better than I :

ISIS are modern-day Nazis, except they are driven by religious fanaticism instead of a secular nationalism.

 

[MisterFalcon]

Yes and no. From the previously linked article (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-genocide-tory-motion-1.3635632):

Fortunately other nations did wait not with their actions for the UN to finish their report as everyone would have been dead by now as in Rwanda.

 

[20cent]

After the Holocaust everybody was keen to proclaim "never again", yet Europe and the rest of the world usually just stands by and watches when things like this happen or are about to happen.

"never again" doesn't apply to everyone it seems....

 

[RazMaTaz]

Absolutely disgusting.

Reality is, if you attempt to destroy them, someone else will be motivated to create the next "ISIS", you dont do anything, they still get bigger. 911 happened, all targets were on Al Queda, and guess, what, even after killing Bin Laden, raiding middle eastern countries, all it has caused Islamaphobia to rise significantly, destruction of landmarks and beautiful countries (Syria as an example), and worst of all, Al Queda still exists, along side other groups such as ISIS.

Sick reality is, ISIS is getting bigger even with so much firepower and armies on foot, but countries such as Syria are getting wiped out, causing havok to innocent lives. It is starting to have a knock on effect.

 

[PeskyToaster]

Is someone else going to do something or are we going to have to again? What is the UN for if not this shit.

 

[Jb]

I do agree that we (not specifically US) must stop ISIL, there's no questioning that, but what is it that we realistically can do? If we put special ops on the ground to retrieve endangered groups, where are we going to hold them? Look at the refugee issues in Greece and Europe. If we start bombing main cities that ISIL has captured, we're doing more damage than good again by destroying other peoples homes.

So it's best to do nothing and let daesh commit genocide, throw gays off building and enslave and rape women than to intervene and accept moral responsibility when some things inevitably go wrong?

Thousands of innocents died but hey at least my conscience is clear and my hands are clean!

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Well you will get your wish with the next president, both are more hawkish than Obama. Although I would guess only one cares about genocide

I don't think there are easy solutions to this. "More" isn't always the answer.

I do agree that we (not specifically US) must stop ISIL, there's no questioning that, but what is it that we realistically can do? If we put special ops on the ground to retrieve endangered groups, where are we going to hold them? Look at the refugee issues in Greece and Europe. If we start bombing main cities that ISIL has captured, we're doing more damage than good again by destroying other peoples homes.

There are no easy answers, no. Saving lives should always be the first priority. If that means evacuating hundreds of thousands of threatened peoples to the United States and assimilating them like we did the South East Asian Boat People after the Vietnam War then so be it. If that means sending in special forces to protect, train, and fortify minority strongholds like we are doing with the Kurds, then so be it. If that means having a massive campaign to assassinate ISIS leaders so be it.

 

[RazMaTaz]

So it's best to do nothing and let daesh commit genocide, throw gays off building and enslave and rape women than to intervene and accept moral responsibility when some things inevitably go wrong?

Thousands of innocents died but hey at least my conscience is clear and my hands are clean!

If we havent learnt anything since 9/11, it is that these groups just end up getting spread like a virus to more and more areas. It started with Al Queda, now we got ISIS, Al Queda, and god knows what else.

Saving lives is always a primary, therefore should be more "on foot" then just sending F15s or what ever to bomb a specific area regardless of whos there or not. Syria is an example of causing more harm then good.

 

[Kinitari]

Fortunately other nations did wait not with their actions for the UN to finish their report as everyone would have been dead by now as in Rwanda.

This happened on Tuesday, and the UN came to its conclusion today. I don't think that anything would have happened in these two days, and further, I doubt anything will happen in the next two. Hopefully though with the UN making this declaration, this gets non partisan support across the western democracies.

What that means when it comes to what to do next... I have no idea

 

[Purkake4]

Oh my god.

None of this is new information. This report is to light a fire under the Security Council to finally forward a Syrian case to the International Criminal Court.

 

[clemenx]

After the Holocaust everybody was keen to proclaim "never again", yet Europe and the rest of the world usually just stands by and watches when things like this happen or are about to happen.

It even happened again in Europe in Srebrenica.

 

[metalslimer]

I mean outside of a full scale ground invasion what more could the US be doing? This is so heatbreaking.

 

[Corronchilejano]

After the Holocaust everybody was keen to proclaim "never again", yet Europe and the rest of the world usually just stands by and watches when things like this happen or are about to happen.

Never again (will this happen to white people).

 

[gutter_trash]

Didn't Trudeau and his Liberals vote against calling this a genocide or something? Disappointing.

Yup, sadly Foreign Affairs is Justin's weakness

His father was firm and tough against terrorists. Justin need to channel his father's cojones

 

[Purkake4]

Didn't Trudeau and his Liberals vote against calling this a genocide or something? Disappointing.

Because it's 2015.

 

[FStop7]

After the Holocaust everybody was keen to proclaim "never again", yet Europe and the rest of the world usually just stands by and watches when things like this happen or are about to happen.

Unfortunately it's happened again many times. Cambodia and Rwanda, many others... it's fucked up.

 

[thelatestmodel]

Because it's 2015.

A lot of them would obviously change their mind given this new information. Stop turning this into an attack on Trudeau.

 

[Purkake4]

A lot of them would obviously change their mind given this new information. Stop turning this into an attack on Trudeau.

It's not new information, it's just nicely filed into one report. Here's article about a UN report describing the crimes from October 2014. UN first called it a Genocide in March 2015.

No one should be beyond criticism.

 

[hydragonwarrior]

So not do enough and let ISIS exterminate entire ethnic groups? We probably don't need to send in an army, but more special forces on the ground and evacuations of threatened groups would be a start. The rest of the countries in the Middle East seemingly just care about keeping ISIS out of their borders. We have a responsibility as the foremost superpower being able to project force anywhere in the world in minutes to save lives. The United States is partially responsible for ISIS, we need to put them in the ground.


.

I think direct involvement is something we can't afford, esp when Iraq is still on ppls minds.

 

[Ashes]

I guess when killing civilians is okay, genocide is but a step up. Still totally Islam. Since absolutely nothing is unislamic, right? Not even genocide.

I feel ashamed to use sarcasm but at what point do these guys stop being Islamic?

Edit: on reflection I am not sure it matters what labels we use; Isis just need to be gone. I think we can all agree with that.