ISIS News Today: Amal Clooney Urges Iraq to Support U.N. Investigation on Islamic State's Yazidi Genocide
International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney urged Iraq and other nations to allow a United Nations investigation into the crimes committed by militant group ISIS and to bring the Islamic State to justice for the Yazidi genocide.
According to a report by People, the 39-year-old human rights lawyer participated in an event on Thursday, March 9, which was organized by several nations in order to continue the campaign to hold ISIS accountable for the crimes the militant group has committed. Clooney was accompanied by her client Nadia Murad as well as members of state from Belgium, Iraq and the United Kingdom.
"Not one ISIS militant has faced trial for international crimes anywhere in the world... Why is it that nothing has been done?" Clooney spoke from the podium. "Somehow we are no closer to justice today than when I addressed you last year."
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The Islamic State was reportedly committing genocide against the Yazidis in Syria and Iraq in the interest of eradicating the minority religious community through killings, sexual slavery and other crimes.
Though Britain is drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution to initiate a U.N. investigation into the Yazidi genocide, the Iraqi government must send a letter formally requesting the inquiry before the 15-member council can vote on the matter.
Despite the public support by Iraq for the launching of the U.N. investigation, the government has yet to submit a request, according to Clooney. As such, she urged Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to send a letter to the United Nations Security Council to finally initiate an active response in bringing ISIS to justice.
"Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, what is shocking here is not just the brutality of ISIS but how long those who know about it can remain passive," Clooney said. "If we do not change course, history will judge us, and there will be no excuse for our failure to act."
"Don't let this be another Rwanda where you regret doing too little, too late," she urged. "Don't let ISIS get away with genocide."
In an interview with Reuters after speaking at the U.N. event, Clooney explained that what they want to see is the launching of an investigation conducted in cooperation with Iraqi authorities. However, if the Iraqi government is not forthcoming with their support, she said the United Nations must come up with "other ways in which to achieve accountability."
