• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
AFRIPOL

AFRIPOL

en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Mission Statement
  • Articles
  • Book Review
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

President Biden Administration Urge by Senators Rubio and Hawley to Redesignate Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ as Violence Against Christians Rises

July 1, 2022 by AFRIPOL Leave a Comment

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to immediately redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. The letter follows recent acts of violence targeting Nigerian Christians that have underscored the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country. 

“Religious violence and intolerance directed toward Nigerian Christians has worsened in recent years,” the senators wrote. “One report documented more than 4,650 cases of Nigerian Christians who were killed for their faith in 2021. Accordingly, Nigeria earns the dubious honor—for the second consecutive year—of being the deadliest country on earth for Christians.” 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

“Given the abysmal state of religious freedom in Nigeria, it is incumbent upon you to reverse last year’s decision and redesignate the country as a CPC,” the senators continued. “The moment demands that you do so without delay.” 

Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) also signed the letter.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Josh Hawley (R-MO)

Below is the full text of the letter

Dear Secretary Blinken:

As you are well aware, horrific acts of deadly violence have been committed against Nigerian Christians in recent weeks, including the massacre of churchgoers on Pentecost Sunday and the stoning of a Christian college student. Sadly, such violence has become all too familiar for Christians in Africa’s most populous country. Last year, however, you inexplicably removed Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) despite no demonstrable improvement in the country’s religious freedom conditions. On the contrary, the situation in Nigeria has grown worse. We previously urged you to immediately reverse your misguided decision, and we write today to renew our call.

Recent high-profile acts of violence underscore the intense religious persecution that is regularly experienced by Nigerian Christians. On Pentecost Sunday, gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Ondo state, reportedly killing at least 50 churchgoers. Last month, a violent mob brutally stoned to death Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in northwest Nigeria. According to reports, some Islamist students were enraged by a “blasphemous” message Deborah had posted in a WhatsApp group, in which she said that “Jesus Christ is the greatest. He helped me pass my exams.” Merely expressing one’s Christian faith has apparently become tantamount to a death sentence in many parts of Nigeria.

Religious violence and intolerance directed toward Nigerian Christians has worsened in recent years. One report documented more than 4,650 cases of Nigerian Christians who were killed for their faith in 2021. Accordingly, Nigeria earns the dubious honor—for the second consecutive year—of being the deadliest country on earth for Christians.

We wrote last year that “[n]ot only has the government of Nigeria failed to take meaningful steps to mitigate such violence, but Nigerian authorities restrict and crack down on religious minorities and detain individuals indefinitely on blasphemy-related charges.” We remain concerned that the Nigerian government is failing to protect the religious freedom and basic safety of its Christian citizens. Furthermore, as this year’s annual reports from the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and from your own Department make clear, Nigerian government authorities directly participate in the persecution of Christians, Muslims, and even non-theists, most notoriously through arrests and convictions under blasphemy laws. Make no mistake: continued enforcement of state-sanctioned blasphemy laws enables the type of deadly violence that killed Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu and so many others.

When we previously wrote you, we were met with a response which failed to answer our questions about why the State Department views Nigeria as not having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom” or even “severe violations of religious freedom.” This is unacceptable, especially because you are required by federal law to consider the recommendation of USCIRF—which, since 2009, has been to designate Nigeria as a CPC. In fact, USCIRF reiterated in its 2022 Annual Report that it was “appalled” at the removal of Nigeria’s CPC designation. Despite public statements from you and other State Department officials condemning the recent bloodshed in Nigeria, the fact remains that the Department still does not officially regard Nigeria as a severe violator of religious freedom.

The State Department released its 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom on June 2, which starts the 90-day timeline for the Department to make its religious freedom designations. Given the abysmal state of religious freedom in Nigeria, it is incumbent upon you to reverse last year’s decision and redesignate the country as a CPC. The moment demands that you do so without delay.

We look forward to your swift action on this important matter. 

Sincerely,

Filed Under: Articles, Strategic Research & Analysis

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

More to See

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have Declared war on the Global chocolate industry over cocoa prices (video)

March 20, 2023 By AFRIPOL

(video) I Will Never Call And Congratulate Sanwo-Olu For This Sham Of An Election – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

March 19, 2023 By AFRIPOL

RSS AllAfrica News: Latest

  • Africa: TotalEnergies CAF CL - Elshahat Double Sends Ahly's Red Devils Flying Into Quarters
    [CAF] In front of slightly over 50,000 fans at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, record African champions Al Ahly soared into the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after a well worked 3-0 victory over Sudan's AL Hilal.
  • Africa: TotalEnergies CAF CL - Petro Hit Vita to Finish Third in Group a
    [CAF] Angola's Petro de Luanda finished third in Group A of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League after a nervy 1-0 win over Congo's AS Vita Club at their Estádio 11 de Novembro backyard in the capital Luanda.
  • Africa: CAF African Schools Football Championship the Finalists - Cecafa - Unaf
    [CAF] Fountain Gate Secondary School cruised to the title in the girls' competition at the CECAFA zonal finals that were played in February. The Tanzanian side defeatedAwaro Senior Secondary from Ethiopia 3-0 in the final, using the benefit of home ground advantage to book their place at the continental event.
  • Rwanda: How New Rwanda-Australia Trade, Investment Body Will Boost Ties
    [New Times] The Australia -- Rwanda Trade and Investment Council (ARTIC), a new body formed during the Australian leadership retreat in Brisbane from March 24 to 25, aims to strengthen relations between Australia and Rwanda by building mutually beneficial links in business, education, and culture.The council which is composed of business and community leaders, plans […]
  • Sudan: Statement By Spokesman of Political Process
    [SNA] Khartoum -- A meeting was held in the Republican Palace at 01:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1st, which included the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, the Vice - President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, and the leaders of the civil forces that signed the framework agreement […]
  • Sudan: Parties of Framework Agreement Decide to Solve Military Reform Issues Before Final Signing
    [SNA] Khartoum -- The military and civil parties that signed the framework agreement, led by the President of the Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdu-Fattah Al-Burhan, his Deputy, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the member of the Sovereignty Council, Al-Tahir Hajar, the civil parties that signed the framework agreement, the facilitating tripartite mechanism of the United Nations, the […]

Tags

Achebe Africa Anambra Boko Haram Buhari CBN Corona Virus Egypt Igbo IMF Inflation Jonathan Kenya Nigeria Okonjo Iweala Peter Obi Sanusi Senate Soludo South Africa Soyinka United States
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Archives

Footer

Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center, AFRIPOL is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.

Recent

  • Ghana President Publicly ends Cocoa Export to Switzerland.
  • VP Kamala Harris Gives Emotional Speech After Visiting Cape Coast Castle In Ghana (video)
  • U.S Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at Ghana Jubilee House to meet President Akufo-Addo
  • US Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Ghana for African tour (video, Pics)
  • Peter Obi exchanged views on the state of the nation with OBJ @ Anambra Airport (pics)

Search

Tags

Achebe Africa Anambra Boko Haram Buhari CBN Corona Virus Egypt Igbo IMF Inflation Jonathan Kenya Nigeria Okonjo Iweala Peter Obi Sanusi Senate Soludo South Africa Soyinka United States

Copyright © 2023 · AFRIPOL