Mikhail Kogan

November 16, 2016

UWRT 1103
Nadine Gordon
Literature Review (the reviewed sources are numbered as they are in the chart; 5 out of 8
sources are analyzed):
1. This New York Times article states that the Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, firmly
believes that the actions conducted by ISIS can be called a genocide (Rosenberg,
Matthew, and Rukmini Kallimachi. "Kerry Says Attacks by ISIS on Christians, Yazidis
and Shiites Are Genocide." New York Times 18 Mar. 2016: n. pag. Web.). The article also
states that although Kerrys viewpoint was welcomed by the experts on Northern Iraq, the
U.S. policy is unlikely to change. The brief description of how the members of each
religious minority are treated is provided; it is emphasized that it is possible that the
Yazidis suffer the greatest since the ISIS militants consider them to be polytheists and
have waged an unforgiving assault on them. Kerry also stated that Islamic States
crimes against humanity must be brought to light by an independent investigation and
through formal legal determinations made by a competent court or tribunal.
2. This book by Malcolm Nance and Richard Engel gives the description of the Islamic
State, traces its roots, and talks about what can be done to eliminate it (Nance, Malcolm
W., and Richard Engel. Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They
Believe. New York: Skyhorse, 2016. Print.) It states that ISIS has deep roots, stretching
back to the earliest days of the Islamic history; it also notes that it was a very modern
event that allowed ISIS to burst onto central stage. It is an interesting source since it also
takes in the account some of the actions of the West (such as the invasion of Iraq) that
played a pivotal role in ISIS becoming what it is nowadays.
4. This article that was published in the Wall Street journal provides a copy of the
Resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives that states that the atrocities
perpetrated by ISIL against Christians, Yezidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities
in Iraq and Syria constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Thus, it
determines that the actions of ISIS can be classified as genocide; it further states that the
member states of the United Nations should coordinate urgently on measures to prevent
further war crimes and other atrocities committed by the Islamic State. Overall, it makes
it evident that U.S. has resolved to take the countermeasures against ISIS ("Notable &
Quotable: On the ISIS Christian Genocide." Wall Street Journal [New York] 16 Mar.
2016: n. pag. Web.).

6. This article from the NPR describes the atrocities of ISIS against the Yazidis in
general ("U.N. Report: ISIS Is Committing Genocide Against Yazidis." NPR. NPR, n.d.
Web. 07 Nov. 2016.). Yazidis are a a very old community with their own religion. The
article states that because of that, Yazidis are treated by the Islamic State as devil
worshippers, and therefore, are mercilessly killed.
7. In this NPR article, host Ari Shapiro interviewed Lori Hinnant, the international
security correspondent for the Associated Press, about how they documented 72 mass
graves created by ISIS in Syria and Iraq ("Associated Press Documents 72 Mass Graves
Created By ISIS." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.). It tells about the atrocities that
ISIS commits as it is retreating. The sheer number of graves is a sad confirmation of
how inhumane has the rule of the Islamic State been toward the inhabitants of the
territories under its power.