The Republican National Committee chairman called on President Obama to formally condemn the Islamic State’s mass killings of Christians in light of the State Department’s failure to do so, according to a statement issued late Wednesday.
“The slaughter of Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities by ISIS is a crime against humanity and must be recognized for what it is: genocide. The fact President Obama continues to drag his feet in officially making this declaration is a disturbing abdication of American leadership and moral authority,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said.
A provision in last year’s omnibus government funding bill had required Secretary of State John Kerry to decide by March 17 if the terrorist group’s killings of Christians was legally considered genocide.
The State Department’s failure to meet the deadline prompted House lawmakers to pass a resolution on Monday in a last-ditch effort to persuade the Obama administration to do what the agency had not done.
“After Republicans and Democrats came together to unanimously denounce these horrific mass killings, President Obama is completely out of excuses,” Priebus said. “Failure to meet Thursday’s congressionally mandated deadline would send a dangerous message to the world about America’s commitment to confronting and ending these genocidal acts of terror. It’s time President Obama do the right thing.”
The White House has not responded to the RNC’s pleas, but the State Department said it intends to ask for more time to investigate.
“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,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said earlier this week. “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.”
