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Tillerson says protecting targets of ISIS is U.S. religious freedom priority

The secretary of state cited the militant group's attacks on Middle Eastern religious minorities.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson underlined the nation’s commitment to protecting religious and ethnic groups targeted by the so-called Islamic State as he issued his department’s first international religious freedom report since President Trump took office.

“ISIS is clearly responsible for genocide against Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’a Muslims in areas it controls or has controlled,” said Tillerson on August 15 at the State Department.

He linked ISIS to ethnic cleansing of religious minorities and attacks on churches and Christian pilgrims in Egypt.