Page:Written Testimony (Hon. Frank Wolf - Confronting the Genocide of Religious Minorities - A Way Forward).pdf/3

 pressure to put genocide on the map in Washington.” It is my hope that the Senate will work to pass S. Res. 340. I would also like to thank Secretary Kerry for publicly acknowledging that the Islamic State has committed genocide against the religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. While I am aware that defining these crimes does not necessarily mean that justice will prevail, this is a change from cases in the past when genocide was committed and the U.S. stood by in silence. Granted, such a designation now requires the need to act. The genocide designation is important on many levels, but first and foremost, it honors the victim’s memories. Additionally, targeted groups are better able to seek refugee status or receive aid if they wish to stay in their home country, as many wish to do. One area of major concern is the rehabilitation of the women and girls who have been released from ISIS as well as trauma counseling for the children. An article published by Human Rights Watch this past Wednesday revealed once again that such services are limited and non-existent in some places. According to the article, the UN thinks that as many as 3,500 people may still be held by ISIS, many women and girls.

Another area of need is that of a Safe Haven for religious minorities. These people need a place to live where they can rebuild their lives without having to re-live the horrors of what happened to them. (Many have suggested the creation of a province in the Nineveh Plains for Christians, Yezidis, Shia Turkmen and other religious minorities.)

The genocide designation also provides an avenue for the prosecution of perpetrators or for those who aid them. In September of 2015 I wrote a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch requesting the prosecution of those involved in the murder of the four American citizens (James Foley, Stephen Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller).

If the Justice Department is able to find a way to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction over a case of sports corruption as seen with FIFA, surely it can do the same against a genocidal group that has taken the lives of American citizens.

Many of you may have attended the private Member briefing with the young Yezidi girl, Bazi, last summer. She was allegedly held by an American who had joined ISIS. Our Justice Department should not only be concerned about the American citizens who were killed by ISIS, but also with those who have joined their vile ranks. Just a month ago an article came out about a young man from Virginia who had joined ISIS, and finding life to difficult, tried to defect to Turkey. He was apprehended and is still being held by the Kurdistan Regional Government. I would hope that our Justice Department has a plan to move forward on prosecution of these individuals. Such prosecution should also include countries or individuals who fund or harbor members of ISIS. While I was in Iraq I was told multiple times that some in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey have aided the Islamic State. This must come to a stop.

It should be made clear that anyone aiding ISIS in any way should be charged with genocide in various governmental courts but also before the International Criminal Court. Also, Congress should quickly pass legislation to change Title 18 of the United States criminal code to ensure