March 23, 2018 ISIS' Genocide of Christians - A Step toward Its Caliphate: The Past, Present and Future of Christians in the Middle East
Despite the military containment of ISIS, its genocidal ideology continues to appeal to new recruits and it has recommitted itself to attacking Christian targets in other countries.
Friday, Mar 23, 2018
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Heritage Foundation
Agenda
Opening Video
Rise from the Ruins
Introduction
Kim R. Holmes
Executive Vice President, The Heritage Foundation
Opening Remarks
The Honorable Sam Brownback
U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom
Panel 1 – Did ISIS Commit Genocide against Christians?
Bassam Ishaak, President, Syriac National Council of Syria
Gabriel Said Reynolds, Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology, University of Notre Dame
Robert A. Destro, Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America
Paul J. Larkin, Jr., Senior Legal Research Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies
– Moderator
Panel 2 – Where Do We Go From Here?
Chris Engels, Deputy Director for Investigations and Operations, Center for International Justice and Accountability
Olivia Enos, Policy Analyst, Asian Studies Institute
Kent R. Hill, Executive Director, Religious Freedom Institute
Emilie Kao, Director, Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society – Moderator
Closing Remarks by
The Honorable Frank Wolf
Distinguished Fellow 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative and former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Hosted by
Paul J. Larkin, Jr.
Senior Legal Research Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies,
The Heritage Foundation
Description
In Spring 2016, the United States declared that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) committed genocide against religious minorities, including Christians in Syria and Iraq. The decision came after a long debate and significant controversy over whether ISIS’ atrocities amounted to genocide and whether Christians were indeed targeted for extinction. Upon the two year anniversary of the designation, we will examine what the United States can do to help these communities rebuild and reestablish themselves as a moderating influence in a region riven apart by sectarian strife. And despite the military containment of ISIS, its genocidal ideology continues to appeal to new recruits and it has recommitted itself to attacking Christian targets in other countries. Along with representatives of indigenous Christian communities, experts in international human rights, law, religious freedom, Islamic theology, and terrorism financing will discuss the challenges to religious minorities and international peace and security posed by violent religious extremist groups like ISIS.
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