UN General Assembly
2014

order to put an end to impunity, enable justice to be served and deter criminals. The events unfolding in vast areas of Syria and Iraq constitute human crimes that cannot be understood or accepted by any intellect or faith. Perpetrated in the name of Islam, such crimes have cost the lives of tens of thousands of Muslim civilians and have caused unprecedented waves of displaced people. In addition, those crimes have destabilized national entities, divided societies and destroyed human and material resources. That terrorist onslaught targets religious groups that since time immemorial have been an essential component of the social fabric of the region and a fundamental part of the social and cultural diversity that has long characterized the eastern Mediterranean. In the past few months, the entire world has witnessed attacks against Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, their forced expulsion and the destruction of their property and holy sites. Lebanon considers attacks against religions, their followers and sacred places to be an offence against human dignity and a violation of the freedom of religious belief and practice enshrined in