Maundy Thursday's House of Lords debate was on Syria, in which David Alton spoke spoke: "there have been widespread reports of arbitrary arrests, threats of violence and looting of civilian property by the Free Syrian Army—a group the United Kingdom Government have previously told us that they support."
"The consequences for Syria have been lethal for millions of people, not least in the slaughter of the region's minorities...Nearly 10,000 Yazidis are believed to have been killed or captured by ISIS, with more than 3,000 Yazidi girls and women believed to be currently enslaved in Syria. Christians have also experienced a genocide that began with the Armenians at the beginning of the 20th century and continues to this day."
Speaking specifically of the plight of Christians, he said:"The Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo says that two-thirds of Syrian Christians have either been killed or driven away from his country."
Lord Alton explained what one Christian family had gone through: "I serve as a pro bono member of the board of the charity Aid to the Church in Need, and have been deeply moved by the accounts of many who have given evidence to the charity. The suffering that they have experienced was described last night at a Passiontide Wednesday service at St Patrick's, Soho. One of those who has given evidence told me the story of a Christian family: a mother and 12 year-old daughter which were raped by ISIS militants, leading the father, who was forced to watch, to commit suicide. One refugee described how she witnessed ISIS crucify her husband on the door to their home."
He reiterated that he had written a piece in The Times four years ago, saying: 'the world must wake up urgently to the plight of the ancient churches throughout the region who are faced with the threat of mass murder and mass displacement'.
"But as Yazidis fled to Mount Sinjar and Christians fled for their lives, the world chose not to wake up and the genocide continued."
An amendment was laid before the House in 2016 by Lord Alton and fellow Christian politician, Lady Cox, Lady Kennedy of The Shaws and Lady Nicholson.
The House of Commons later unanimously approved a Motion tabled by Christian and Conservative MP Fiona Bruce, describing the slaughter of these minorities as a genocide and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
He explained how David Cameron once said: "there is a very strong case here for saying that it is genocide, and I hope that it will be portrayed and spoken of as such."
"Daesh fighters have been systematically perpetrating mass atrocities, including killing members of religious groups such as Yazidis, Christians, Shia Muslims and others, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of these groups, deliberately imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction in whole or in part."
"The crucifixion and death of one young man was boastfully posted on the internet. He was crucified for wearing a cross. From the same town local girls were taken as sex slaves. ISIS returned their body parts to the front door of their parents' homes with a videotape of them being raped."
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