German parliament recognizes massacre of Yazidis as genocide

BERLIN (AA) - German parliament adopted a resolution Thursday declaring the massacre of Yazidis by the Daesh/ISIS terror group a genocide.

The resolution, which was initiated by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s liberal-left coalition and the main opposition Christian Democrats, was unanimously approved by lawmakers.

More than 5,000 Yazidis were killed by the terror group nearly 10 years ago in northern Iraq. Nearly 200,000 have fled the region to escape the attacks.

During the debate, Green lawmaker Max Lucks said the resolution should not only be understood as an "act for the history books” but an act of action.

He said Germany and the international community failed to prevent the genocide while Daesh committed heinous crimes against civilians.

"We must honestly admit that we did not act when our help mattered the most. People lost their lives due to our silence,” he said.

Lucks said Germany is indebted to Yazidis and should step up its support and humanitarian aid for Yazidis living in refugee camps in northern Iraq.