Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), released the following statement on the murder of 26 civilians in Egypt:
    
     “My prayers are with the friends and families of the 28 Christian pilgrims—women and children among them—who were gunned down today in cold blood on their way to an ancient monastery in Egypt.

     “Terrorists target all peace-loving people; however they make no effort to hide their concerted attempts to purge the Middle East of Christians and other religious minorities. In claiming responsibility for the double church bombings in Egypt on Palm Sunday, one of the ISIS attackers vowed that Christians are ‘a target at the top of our priorities’ and that more attacks would be coming.

     “The U.S. should take the lead in advocating for these persecuted populations. We, and our allies like Egypt, must take urgent action to stop this bloodletting and guarantee safety and equal protection under the law to all Christians and other religious minorities of the region. Local-level investigations, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators are essential to the security of those who are under siege in Egypt and elsewhere.

     “The U.S. must also support criminal investigations into perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against religious minorities in other parts of the region, as directed in the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act (H.R. 390). Unless perpetrators are held accountable for targeting religious minorities, these communities will be even more endangered throughout the Middle East.”