Glasgow: August 16, 2014. (PCP) Global Minorities Alliance, has vehemently condemned the recent spate of persecution by the Islamic state, a puritanical group of Islamic Sunnis which has been advancing in Northern Iraq in the past 2 months scapegoating innocent men, children and women from various minority groups. The group's ‘convert or die’ approach has seen it massacre hundreds of minority people, and drove hundreds of thousands of Iraqis from their homes. More minority people each day flee their homes to escape the advancing militant group, which is made up of around 10,000 jihadists. The group has entered Northern Iraq from Syria, as well as western areas of the country, and routinely documents its ritualistic executions with photographs mocking the dead. The Islamic State takes pride in beheading, dismembering, and brutalising any that do not follow its strict Islamic agenda. Those on the receiving end of this brutality have been mostly the minority Yazidi religious group, who have been a victim of persecution in Iraq for many years. Much of this persecution comes from misunderstanding of the practices and figureheads of the religion, leading to a false belief that Yazidis are devil worshipers. To convert from Yazidism is impossible for is followers, meaning that the minority are vulnerable to abuses from IS militants, who have tortured and massacred Yazidis for not abandoning their faith. In a press statement provided to Global Minorities Alliance, The Central Council of Yazidis in Germany illustrate the suffering of those in the Sinjar region, commenting that: “Our Yezidi brothers and sisters have told us of several thousand bodies that are scattered on the streets of the Sinjar region. Reports of rapes, even on 12 to 13 year old girls and of slaughter on children are increasing. We have several reports at hand in which children were decapitated. Their heads were put on wooden spikes” Ease of movement for fleeing Yazidis into neighbouring countries is paramount for their escape, requiring practical assistance from the international community. The Yazidi Council made this plea to world leaders: “We pray and we beg the international community to open their borders and support the refugees financially and logistically. The EU should regulate an intake of relatives that is -at least temporarily- non-bureaucratic, fast and simple” Around 200,000 Iraqis have been driven out of their home thus far by the Islamic State, and many remain stranded on Mount Sinjar, these people desperately need further US food packages and logistical assistance to survive in the 50 degree heat. Human Security Centre, a London based think tank which adopts and promotes the concept of human security published an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron this week, calling for a recalling of parliament in order to develop a much stronger response from the UK to combat IS. Global Minorities Alliance, has endorsed the content of the letter in the support minorities facing unprecedented persecution in Iraq: Read the full letter here http://goo.gl/ARYlIW HSC outlined the genocidal and horrific acts of IS, including the sawing in half of children, public crucifixions, and the mounting of heads on spikes. In light of the UK Government’s limited response, HSC wrote: “In the face of these shocking and appalling mass atrocity crimes, which range from crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing to forthright genocide, and which still continue, we cannot understand how just a humanitarian aid operation, comprising of air drops, could be deemed a suitable response by a Western power so involved in the history and politics of the region” HSC published recommendations to the British government in light of the situation. The HSC also urged David Cameron to ensure that Christian and Yazidi refugees in Iraq are offered asylum in the UK. The amount of people suffering at the hands of Islamic State is staggering; many Christians have been driven out of their homes, such as those who have fled the northern Iraqi village of Qaraqosh. As well as this, Shia Muslim Turkmen, Shabaks and Sunni tribesmen have been victimised. Even Muslims in Iraq who don’t conform to Islamic State’s strict agenda have fallen victim to IS. The wives of men killed by IS have also suffered horrendously, with many taken as slaves by the militants who killed their loved ones. In a statement released this week to commemorate a year since attacks took place on Churches in Egypt, Bishop Angaelos - General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church - highlighted the value of non-retaliation and peace in response to this conflict. Bishop Angaelos also emphasised the need for the world community to stand in unity with those suffering in the Middle East, condemn the brutality of Islamic State, and provide the assistance needed to the victims of dehumanising and brutal acts. In addition, Bishop Angaelos called upon the Iraqi and world governments to deal with the situation peaceably: “Whether addressing Egypt, Iraq, Syria, or the broader Middle East, peace, stability, cohesion and reconciliation are traits of unified and unifying states, and cannot come about without the support of a proactive and intentional effort from those who govern them” GMA's Chief Executive, Manassi Bernard, while commenting on the situation that: “we are deeply concerned about the state of minorities and condemn this on-going persecution by the Islamic State, and stand alongside the Yazidis and all who are suffering in Iraq”. He further maintained that: “Although action has has taken place by worldwide government, much more can be done to help those in need. The Islamic State’s recent capturing of Mosul Dam, as well as their advances towards the Kurdish city of Irbil show the need for decisive action from the world, before it is too late for the minorities of Iraq”.