We've Said It – Now What? Genocide in the Middle East

International & National Security Law Practice Group Teleforum

After much prodding from human rights advocates and congressional committees, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the Obama administration considers ISIS guilty of "genocide." Why did it take them so long? The Obama administration may believe the rationale that Christian purges are mitigated by the ISIS offer of historic jizya compliance from religious objectors. But field reports reveal that, under ISIS, the jizya option has been categorically rejected. What does the genocide designation do for targeted religious groups? Does it matter that particular religious groups are described by this designation? Should we now expect a very different policy in the Middle East?

Featuring:

• Prof. Julian Ku, Maurice A. Deane Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law, Faculty Director of International Programs and Hofstra Research Fellow, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
• Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
• Dr. Gregory H. Stanton, President, Genocide Watch
• Moderator: Prof. Jeremy Rabkin, Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law

After much prodding from human rights advocates and congressional committees, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the Obama administration considers ISIS guilty of "genocide." Why did it take them so long? The Obama administration may believe the rationale that Christian purges are mitigated by the ISIS offer of historic jizya compliance from religious objectors. But field reports reveal that, under ISIS, the jizya option has been categorically rejected. What does the genocide designation do for targeted religious groups? Does it matter that particular religious groups are described by this designation? Should we now expect a very different policy in the Middle East?

Featuring:

• Prof. Julian Ku, Maurice A. Deane Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law, Faculty Director of International Programs and Hofstra Research Fellow, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
• Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
• Dr. Gregory H. Stanton, President, Genocide Watch
• Moderator: Prof. Jeremy Rabkin, Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law

Call begins at 1:00 pm Eastern Time.

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