The Armenians of America urged the U.S. government to protect Christians of the Middle East, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America Aram Hamparian told the Global Catholic Channel.

He called to set up military intervention against ISIS forces targeting Christians and other civilian populations and to push back against Turkey which has used the cover of war against ISIS to attack the Kurds and other minority populations.

In this context he underscored importance of a resolution introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry calling for the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East by ISIS and others be labeled “genocide.”

“We [Armenians] have come under attack together with many other Christians,” he added.

Hamparian noted that the main challenge they face is that those things are dealt with at the level of politics, while genocide is a moral issue.

“Middle East without Christians would be a less safe place, a less diverse place, and more dangerous,” he added.