The conviction of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for genocide has brought the concept to the fore, just when the British Government refuses to acknowledge that this is precisely what is happening to Christian and other minorities in Syria and Iraq. When the labelling of the activities of Islamic State (IS) as genocide was proposed in an amendment to a bill on immigration, the Government manoeuvred to ensure its defeat. The most the Government has said, in words that have been echoed by the Prime Minister, is that the designation of a crime of genocide requires a judicial ruling. In other words, someone accused of genocide has to be arrested and brought before a British court, and then a judge will decide whether the charge is legally correct. Until then, presumably, genocidal murderers are free to go about their daily business.