U.N. Encourages Arab Nations to Voice Opposition to Islamic State

The United Nations spoke out against the Islamic State this week, urging other countries in the Arab world to publicly denounce the terror organization.

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the U.N.'s top commissioner for human rights, called on Muslim countries to denounce the "monstrous" crimes committed by the Islamic State, saying the terror organization practices an "ideology of violence."

"It is also disturbing how few to nonexistent have been the public demonstrations of anger in the Arab and Muslims worlds over the crimes being perpetrated in Iraq — notwithstanding the clear condemnation by many Arab and Islamic governments," Al Hussein, who is a member of the Jordanian royal family, said.

"The scale and violence of ISIL's brutality towards civilians shreds every principle relevant to human rights," Zeid, who just took up his post as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights,in September, added.

Al Hussein went on to say that although it is a country's responsibility to prosecute criminals that may be acting within its borders, the atrocities committed by the Islamic State are so large that they account for international crimes.

According to Voice of America, U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos added that although the Islamic State is largely to blame for the recent violence, countries must play their part to ensure the violence isn't perpetuated by their militias.

"Armed groups, including militias affiliated with the government, continue to carry out brutal acts of violence against civilians. Entire communities have been uprooted resulting in a significant humanitarian impact," Amos said.