U.S. under pressure to call ISIS atrocities a 'genocide'

In the midst of ongoing atrocities by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), there have been calls at the international level for ISIS atrocities to be acknowledged as a genocide against Christians, Yazidis, and other non-Muslims in the region.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament passed a resolution declaring that the terrorist group "is committing genocide against Christians and Yazidis," as well as "other religious and ethnic minorities." 

Last week, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill made a joint statement describing what ISIS actions as the complete extermination of non Muslim groups in Iraq and Syria.

"Whole families, villages and cities of our brothers and sisters in Christ are being completely exterminated," they said, as reported by the National Review.

In this call for the world's powers to officially declare the Islamic State's actions as genocide, the United States has kept silent and has not used this word yet.

However, this may change.

With the pressure mounting, the U.S. Congress has already mandated the nation's Secretary of State John Kerry to make a determination by March 16 as to whether the persecution that is currently experienced by non-Muslims in the Middle East "constitutes genocide" or not.

However, Kerry's determination of genocide would reportedly exempt Christians.  Unnamed administration officials are claiming that the determination would include the Yazidis and other minorities in the region, but might exclude Christians.

As a result, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has sent Kerry a detailed letter citing instances of persecution against Christians in the Middle East and urging him to reconsider his position. 

The ACLJ said in its letter: "While the European Parliament's resolution passed unanimously specifically labeled it as a 'genocide of Christians,' the Obama Administration continues to say they are concerned with acknowledging the reality of the genocide that is occurring and possible legal ramifications.

"This designation is vitally important because it requires nations around the world to act together to stop this historic evil."