The State Department announced Wednesday that it will miss the congressionally-mandated deadline for deciding whether the murder of Christians in territory controlled by the Islamic State should be deemed a genocide.
In 2015, President Obama signed a provision in the omnibus government funding bill requiring Secretary of State John Kerry to determine by Thursday, March 17 whether the Islamic State’s actions legally constitute genocide. But State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday that Kerry will let that deadline lapse, and ask for more time.
“The secretary continues to study the atrocities perpetuated by [the Islamic State], and is committed to undertaking his assessment in a measured, and deliberate way,” Toner said. “He recognizes the seriousness of the atrocities committed by this terrorist group, as well as the importance of this issue to its victims and survivors.”
“Given the scope and the breadth of the analysis [Secretary Kerry] is contemplating, he will not have a final decision completed by the congressionally-mandated deadline tomorrow,” Toner said.
“This is clearly of the utmost importance to him, as well as Congress, and we expect him to reach a decision very soon,” he added. “We don’t take lightly the issue of a delay like this.”
On Monday, the House unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Obama administration to recognize the Islamic State’s actions as genocide.
Some have said that because the Islamic State allows Christians the chance to pay a tax if they want to follow their religious beliefs, the terrorist group’s actions should not be seen as genocide. Others disagree.
The State Department has missed other significant deadlines as of late. Toner conceded that State was “months late” on a recent human rights report.
State has also missed deadlines for releasing the emails of former Secretary Hillary Clinton.
