(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The UN Security Council strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly" apparent murder in Libya of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by an affiliate of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
In a statement released late Sunday, the members of the Council said "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." They 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, and reiterated their strong condemnation of the persecution of individuals and entire communities on the basis of their religion or belief.
Furthermore, the 15-body council stressed again that "ISIL must be defeated," and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out." They further emphasized in the statement 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-Sharia entities, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaeda, 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 "immediate, safe and unconditional" release of all those who are kept hostage by ISIL, Ansar Al-Sharia entities, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaeda.
Perpetrators of these reprehensible acts of terrorism must be brought to justice, they underlined, and stressed that those responsible for these killings shall be held accountable. Nevertheless, they 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-Qaeda Sanctions List and is thus subject to the asset freeze and arms embargo in resolution 2161 (2014).
The UNSC also recalled 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-Qaeda 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 Thursday, to cut off ISILØ¢'s support networks. Moreover, they 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 statement reaffirmed the Councilآ's full support for Special Representative of the Secretary General, Bernardino Leon, 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, the statement concluded.
The ISIL beheaded, Sunday, 21 Egyptian Copts in Libya.
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