Iraqi Christians are hoping that the US will declare the atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) a genocide before Christianity is completely wiped out in the country.
Genocide is defined as "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group" and a declaration of such for a country that is party to the UN Convention will mean that the country will be entitled to support and protection from other member nations.
"The American delay in officially declaring what has happened to the Christians officially as genocide, or mass extermination and systematic persecution has caused a huge disappointment among the Christians. They have waited a long time for the international community, especially America, to declare this so that they can be supported and protected in their own country," said Yacoob Gewargis, head of the Al-Rafidain Christian bloc in the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) Parliament in northern Iraq, was cited by FOX News.
According to the report, the US could make a declaration by March 17, the deadline set by US Congress to vote on a bill that would declare ISIS actions genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Thousands of families have been displaced in the country, especially in the main areas of Mosul and its surrounding communities.
"My feeling is utter disappointment that the West has left us, everybody has left us," said Martin Alqas, a displaced Iraqi Christian from the Nineveh Plain villages of Qaraqosh, said to FOX News. "The West, with all its advanced technology, can finish ISIS. But they are delaying that due to political purposes which are unknown to us. We as Christians, and other minorities in Iraq, are facing extinction and we are paying the price."
