Hillary Clinton Says Christians Facing ‘Genocide’ in Middle East at the Hands of ISIS
Clinton has been reluctant to use the term.
— -- Hillary Clinton on Tuesday called the killing of Christians and other religious groups in the Middle East a “genocide” -— a term she had previously been reluctant to use.
“Yes, I will now. I will because we now have enough evidence,” Clinton told a man during a town hall at Berlin High School, who asked whether she would join the Pope and other religious and political leaders in using the term.
“What is happening is genocide. Deliberately aimed at destroying not only the lives but wiping out the existence of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East in territories controlled by ISIS, and so I agree with you,” she explained.
In July, Pope Francis used the term “genocide” to describe the killing of Christians in the Middle East.
Earlier this month, President Obama released a statement about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, describing the “brutal atrocities committed against these communities by ISIL,” but did not use the term genocide.
Tonight, Clinton said she had been asked to use the term a few months ago, but declined then.
"I said, you know that term carries with it, legal import. It’s a very important concept and label for behavior that deserves that name. And I said we are only beginning to see this and I’m not sure yet we have enough evidence,” she said, "I’m sure now we have enough evidence.”
Clinton made the remark during her last campaign event before the New Year. She did not comment on any of the attacks Donald Trump has made recently against her husband, former president Bill Clinton, and ignored questions from the press on the matter.