Eastern Catholic patriarchs denounce Islamic State’s ‘crimes against humanity’

c. 2014 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The patriarchs and church leaders of Eastern Catholic churches have denounced as “crimes against humanity” the violence committed by the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

In a statement issued Friday (August 29), the patriarchs condemned the persecution and killing of Christians, Yazidis and other minorities, saying Christians in the region were being threatened by what was described as the jihadi group’s campaign of terror.