ISIS poses one of the biggest threats to religious freedom, State report says

ISIS is one of the biggest threats to religious freedom across the globe and is responsible for genocide, according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who described the threat posed by the Islamic State in the State Department’s annual religious freedom report.

“ISIS is clearly responsible for genocide against Yazidis, Christians and Shia Muslims in areas it controlled,” Tillerson wrote in the preface to the 2016 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. “ISIS is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing directed at these same groups, and in some cases against Sunni Muslims, Kurds and other minorities.”

He added that the extremist group is responsible for “rape, kidnapping, enslavement and death” of targeted religions and ethnicities. Tillerson delivered remarks Tuesday to discuss the report and said the State Department will continue advocating for those seeking to live their lives according to their faith.

“Where religious freedom is not protected, instability, human rights abuses and violent extremism have a greater opportunity to take root,” Tillerson said. “No one should have to live in fear, worship in fear or face discrimination for his or her beliefs.”

 

Read More: ISIS poses one of the biggest threats to religious freedom, State report says – POLITICO

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