Congress Passes Bill Aimed At Prosecuting Iraq and Syria Genocide

Last week, Congress gave final passage to HR 390, the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act (full text). The bill now awaits President Trump's signature. The Act provides in part:

Sec. 4... It is the policy of the United States to ensure that assistance for humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs of individuals who are or were nationals and residents of Iraq or Syria ... is directed toward those ... with the greatest need, including those ... from communities of religious and ethnic minorities ... that .... have been identified as being at risk of persecution, forced migration, genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes.

Sec.5.... The Secretary of State and [USAID] ... are authorized to provide assistance ... to support the efforts of entities, including nongovernmental organizations with expertise in international criminal investigations and law, to address genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes ... by ISIS in Iraq....

Sec. 7... Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes—... (2) an assessment of— (A) the feasibility and advisability of prosecuting ISIS members for whom credible  evidence exists of having committed genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes in Iraq, including in domestic courts in Iraq, hybrid courts, and internationalized domestic courts; and (B) the measures needed— (i) to ensure effective criminal investigations of such individuals....

[Thanks to Blog from the Capital for the lead.]

Suit Alleges Religious Discrimination In Flag Mix-Up

ACLU of Kansas announced yesterday that it has filed a religious and ethnic discrimination lawsuit on behalf of an employee of Spirit AeroSystems against a recreational organization open to Spirit employees.  The organization owns a recreational lake in Wichita, Kansas that can be rented by the organization's members. The complaint (full text) in Zanial v. Spirit Boeing Employees' Association, (D KA, filed 3/19/2018) alleges:

11. On September 2, 2017, Mr. Zanial rented space at the SBEA recreation lake to host a party celebrating the end of Ramadan. The party was attended by approximately 45 guests, the majority of whom were of Malaysian Indian ancestry. Several of Plaintiff’s female guests, including his wife, were wearing hijabs. 

12. Because the party took place shortly after the 60th Anniversary of Malaysian Independence Day, Mr. Zanial’s guest, Nik Azri brought a Malaysian flag to the party. Mr. Zanial and his guests took turns posing with the flag.

This led to a complaint being filed:

Following the party, SBEA reported Mr. Zanial to the Spirit Aerosystems (“Spirit”) security team based on a concern that Mr. Zanial was affiliated with radical Islamic terrorism and alleged that he had used the SBEA lake to hold an ISIS meeting. SBEA alleged that Mr. Zanial and his guests had an American flag that had been “desecrated by ISIS insignia” and were wearing “Muslim garb.” SBEA restricted Mr. Zanial’s membership so he could no longer rent property to host events at the lake.

Congressional Committee Holds Hearing On ISIL Genocide

On April 19, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing on Confronting the Genocide of Religious Minorities: A Way Forward. The hearing focused on ISIL’s genocide against religious minorities and the options available to the United States and other nations. The prepared statements of four of the witnesses appearing at the hearing, transcripts of opening and closing remarks and a video of the full hearing are available on the Commission's website.

ISIS Threatens Two Prominent U.S. Muslims

UPI reports that in the latest issue of Dabiq, ISIS's online English-language magazine, the Islamic terrorist organization calls for the death of two prominent Muslim U.S. political figures-- Huma Abedin (aide to Hillary Clinton) and U.S. Rep. Kieth Ellison.  The threats appear in Issue 14 of the magazine (full text) in an article titled Kill Imams of Kufur in the West (article begins at pg.8; specific threats at pg. 17).  It lists the two along with several others that the article describes as those who "directly involve themselves in politics and enforcing the laws of kufr."

Kerry Says ISIS Guilty of Genocide

As reported by CNN, Secretary of State John Kerry today said he had determined that ISIS (also known as Daesh) is guilty of genocide. At a news conference this morning (video  and full text of Kerry's statement), he said in part:

My purpose in appearing before you today is to assert that, in my judgment, Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control, including Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims. Daesh is genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology, and by actions – in what it says, what it believes, and what it does. Daesh is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing directed at these same groups and in some cases also against Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and other minorities.

Minnesota Federal Judge Creating Innovative Deradicalization Program Aimed At ISIL Recruits

The Minneapolis Star Tribune and MPR News reported yesterday that Minnesota federal district judge Michael J. Davis is setting up an innovative Terrorism Disengagement and Deradicalization Program aimed at deradicalizing defendants convicted of plotting to join ISIS.  Davis has presided over most of the terrorism trials of young Somali-Americans in Minnesota. In court papers filed in the case of four men who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to ISIL, the court says it plans to have the U.S. Probation Office work with a consultant from the German Institute on Radicalization and Deradicalization Studies to recommend an individualized intervention program tailored to each defendant's circumstances and underlying radicalization factors.  The U.S. Attorney's Office is fully supportive of the new initiative.  Defense attorneys have not yet decided whether to accept the plan.

ISIS Fatwas Cover Topics Including Slavery of Infidels and Harvesting of Organs From Apostates

Reuters reported yesterday that among the documents seized from ISIS by U.S. Special Forces in a raid in Syria in May are a number of fatwas (religious rulings) on issues such as the rape of female prisoners, treatment of slaves with minor children, and when a son may steal from his father to for travel funds to fight jihad.  A booklet dated October 2014 and titled From Creator’s Rulings on Capturing Prisoners and Enslavement discusses rules on enslaving women captured from defeated infidels. These are in addition to the ISIS fatwa (full text) reported on last week by Reuters that approves the harvesting of human organs from apostates for transplantation into Muslims.

UPDATE: Here is the full text of the fatwa on sexual intercourse with captured infidel women who are taken as slaves.

Kasich Would Create Agency To Promote Judeo-Christian Values To Counter ISIS

In a speech at the National Press Club yesterday, Ohio Governor John Kasich, a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, told his audience that if elected he would set up an agency with a mandate to promote Judeo-Christian values around the world.  According to the Huffington Post, Kasich says the agency would promote human rights, democracy and the freedom of speech, religion and association as a counter to the message of Islamic militants. Kasich would distribute the information to countries in the Middle East, and to China, Iran and Russia as part of the "battle of ideas" with ISIS.

Donald Trump: Closing Certain Mosques To Fight ISIS Might Be OK

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has created a new controversy in an Oct. 20 interview (video of full interview) on Fox Business Varney & Co. in which he suggested that he might favor closing of certain mosques as a method to fight ISIS.  As reported by Mediaite:

Host Stuart Varney asked about a series of anti-ISIS measures the British government has taken. “They’ve got a whole new series of proposals to deal with this, including withdrawal of passports from some of these people who’ve gone over just to fight–”

“Absolutely. Good, good,” Trump said.

“…and closing some mosques,” he continued. “Would you do the same thing in America?”

“I would do that,” Trump responded. “Absolutely, I think it’s great.”

“Can you do it?” pressed Varney. “Can you close a mosque? We do have religious freedom.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Trump admitted. “I mean, I haven’t heard about the closing of the mosque. It depends, if the mosque is, you know, loaded for bear, I don’t know. You’re going to have to certainly look at it.”

Islamic State Militants Destroy Two Historic Tombs In Palmyra, Syria

AP reported yesterday that in Syria, Islamic State militants have destroyed two historic mausoleums in or near their recently-captured historic city of Palmyra.  One was the grave of Shiite saint Mohammad Bin Ali, a descendant of Imam Ali who was the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. The second was the grave of Sufi scholar Nizar Abu Bahaa Eddine.  IS radicals are Sunnis who view Shiites as heretics and who believe that visiting tombs and religious shrines amounts to idol worship. Syria's Ministry of Culture posted photos of the destruction. CNN has additional details.