U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander today released the following statement regarding the beheading of James Foley, an American journalist in Iraq, and condemning the violent attacks and persecution of Christians and other religious minorities by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS): 

“The beheading of James Foley, an innocent American journalist, by ISIS fanatics is a tragic, monstrous action of the worst possible nature. The Obama administration needs to condemn and demonstrate that this type of intimidation and persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East will not be tolerated and will be met by the strongest appropriate response possible.”  

Last month, in response to the persecution of Iraq’s religious minorities, Alexander cosponsored a resolution by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to call for immediate action to address the urgent need to protect religious minorities from persecution by the Islamic State.

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