A petition created by evangelical, Catholic, and Jewish activists and leaders was released this week, asking the U.S. government to “act immediately and decisively to stop the ISIS/ISIL genocide and prevent the further victimization of religious minorities.”
“President Obama was right to order airstrikes against ISIS/ISIL to stop its advance on key cities, as well as to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing their assaults,” the letter continues. “Much more needs to be done, however, and there is no time to waste.”
Robert P. George, a Catholic and a Republican activist, started the petition in light of the recent unrest and religious persecution by the Islamic State in Iraq. Notable petition signers include Russell Moore, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Thomas Farr, the director of the Religious Freedom Project, Josh Block, the CEO of the Israel Project, and numerous professors from notable universities, such as Harvard, Princeton, Georgetown, and University of Pennsylvania, to name a few.
“We, the undersigned, are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. We are conservatives, liberals, and moderates. We represent various religious traditions and shades of belief,” the petition reads. “None of us glorifies war or underestimates the risks entailed by the use of military force … However, the evidence is overwhelming that [non-military means] will not be capable of protecting the victims of the genocide already unfolding at the hands of ISIS/ISIL.”
The petition continues to urge President Obama to increase airstrikes, provide equipment to Kurdish forces, and also “assist with intelligence.”
The religious community has been enraged at the recently released footages and news reports of the inhumane ways in which ISIS/ISIL has been torturing, raping, and killing children, women, and men. Reports have also mentioned that girls and women have been sold and trafficked as sex slaves.
Pope Francis recently wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, also asking to take action to stop the violence.
Petitioners expressed that they make such a call to action in hopes that greater actions would lead to an end to the genocide. “We are hopeful that local forces, with adequate support and assistance from the U.S. and the international community, can defeat ISIS/ISIL.”
