Security Council Press Statement on Murder of 21 Egyptians
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Liu Jieyi (China):
The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the heinous and cowardly apparent murder in Libya of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by an affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh). This crime once again demonstrates the brutality of ISIL, which is responsible for thousands of crimes and abuses against people from all faiths, ethnicities and nationalities, and without regard to any basic value of humanity.
The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the victims, to the Government of Egypt, as well as to the families of all victims of ISIL. The members of the Security Council reiterate their strong condemnation of the persecution of individuals and entire communities on the basis of their religion or belief.
The members of the Security Council stressed again that ISIL must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out. The members of the Council further emphasized that such continued acts of barbarism perpetrated by ISIL do not intimidate them, but rather stiffen their resolve that there has to be a common effort amongst Governments and institutions, including those in the region most affected, to counter ISIL, Ansar Al Shari’a entities, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida, as the Council resolved in United Nations Security Council resolution 2170 (2014) and Security Council resolution 2199 (2015).
The members of the Security Council demanded the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those who are kept hostage by ISIL, Ansar Al Shari’a entities, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida.
The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. The members of the Security Council stressed that those responsible for these killings shall be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with Libya, Egypt and all other relevant authorities in this regard.
The members of the Security Council further recalled that ISIL is included on the Al-Qaida Sanctions List, and is thus subject to the asset freeze and arms embargo in resolution 2161 (2014), and further recalls that any individual or entity that provides financial or material support to the group, including the provision of arms or recruits, is eligible to be added to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List and subject to sanctions measures. The members of the Security Council underscored the need for full implementation of resolution 2199 (2015), adopted on 12 February, to cut off ISIL’s support networks.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their full support for Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bernardino León and urged all parties in Libya to engage constructively with his efforts to continue an inclusive political process aimed at addressing the political and security challenges facing the country. Council members underscored that only through national unity and dialogue, with a view to finding a peaceful solution, can Libyans build their State and its institutions so as to defeat terrorism and prevent such grave crimes.