Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to press for the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East to be formally declared as genocide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12320/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have repeatedly condemned the horrific crimes by ISIS against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq. ISIS has boasted of its use of murder, torture, mass sexual violence and forced religious conversions in areas under its control. Ireland has publicly condemned ISIS and other terrorist groups at the United Nations, including at the Human Rights Council.

I note that the High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded in his March 2015 report that, subject to a determination by an independent and competent court, ISIS may have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We echo his call that, in order to provide accountability and justice for the victims, all crimes are investigated in line with international human rights standards, and perpetrators are brought to justice.

Determining the validity of claims of genocide by ISIS/Daesh is a matter which should be undertaken by a legally competent court. Ireland has repeatedly called for the referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court by the UN Security Council.