Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner joins religious leaders in calling for action on crimes against humanity in Iraq

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner has joined Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Zoroastrian leaders in calling to David Cameron to use the UK’s seat on the UN Security Counncil to begin the process of bringing war crimes prosecutions against militants from Isil – the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.  In a letter to The Daily Telegraph they write:

“What we are witnessing in Northern Iraq today is a tragedy of historic proportions in which thousands of innocent people are at immediate risk of death for no other reason than their religious beliefs. Freedom of religion and belief, a right set out in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is being denied in the most gross and systemic way possible through the attempted extermination of religious minorities. There is no religious justification for the violation of this inalienable human right.

“Such violations as are currently taking place are crimes against humanity that must be both stopped and punished. The culture of impunity within which these dehumanising atrocities have been committed needs to be challenged most vigorously. Given that Iraq is not a  state party to the International Criminal Court, the Government must now work towards a United Nations Security Council Resolution that refers this matter to the International Criminal Court for investigation and where necessary prosecution. The international community must send a clear signal of intent to those who are committing such atrocities that at some point they will be held accountable for their actions.

“These violations are, however, sadly part of a wider global pattern of increased societal hostility and government restrictions against freedom of religion or belief. Governments, international institutions and non-governmental organisations need to recognise this wider crisis and commit the necessary time, energy and resources to ensure greater respect for this fundamental freedom in order to attempt to forestall such further tragedies”
The Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Lord Bishop of Coventry, Church of England’s Lead Bishop on Foreign Affairs

Commissioner Clive Adams, Territorial Commander, Salvation Army

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom

The Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford

Dayan Ivan Binstock, Court of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth

Malcolm M Deboo, President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe

His Eminence Gregorios, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi to the Movement for Reform Judaism

The Rt Revd Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, Chairman, International Affairs Department, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Ayatollah Dr Sayed Fazel Milani, Imam al-Khoei Islamic Centre, London

Ramesh Pattni, Secretary General, Hindu Forum of Britain

Moulana  Mohammad  Shahid Raza,  OBE, Principal  Imam, Leicester  Central Mosque,  Leicester

Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain

Lord Singh of Wimbledon, Vice-Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion and Belief