RELIGIOUS FREEDOM GROUPS CRITICIZE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS DECISION

By Christian Post, Monday, January 8, 2024, Al Jazeera English Screenshot, YouTube

Groups supporting religious freedom criticized the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the U.S. State Department's list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom, despite ongoing violence and attacks on the country's Christian community.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department released its annual list of countries of Special Concern, which identifies countries that have "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom."

Nigeria was not on the list for the third year in a row, although the Trump administration added the country to the CPC list in 2020 but removed it during the first year of the Biden administration. However, Nigeria remains in the category of"entities of Particular Concern".

In a statement Friday, Sean Nelson, ADF International's Global Advisor for Religious Freedom, denounced Nigeria's removal from the CPC list, stating that "more Christians are murdered in Nigeria for their faith than in all other countries combined."

Nelson stated, " We are disappointed and deeply concerned that the Biden administration has again failed to designate Nigeria as a country of special concern for egregious violations of religious freedom. The United States should increase pressure on Nigeria over the blatant violation of religious freedom taking place in the country."

"It is imperative for Congress to make its voice heard because it is clear that the State Department will not take significant action over the appalling conditions of religious freedom in Nigeria."

Last month, ADF International was one of many advocacy groups that signed a letter asking members of Congress to support a resolution calling on the State Department to designate Nigeria as the CPC and appoint a special envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

The letter addresses violations of religious freedom occurring in African countries and clearly highlights the fact that "90 percent of all Christians murdered for their faith worldwide last year were murdered in Nigeria."

The letter cited data showing 100 Catholic priests have been kidnapped since the start of 2022, 20 of whom were murdered. In addition, additional data showed the burning of 17,000 Christian churches in Nigeria since 2009, many of which were burned with worshippers.

The letter highlighted crimes committed against Christians in Nigeria and condemned the government's response to the crimes for "routinely failing to investigate these attacks and prosecute those responsible". Enforcement of blasphemy laws against Christians is often cited by advocacy organizations as an example of government-sanctioned persecution.

The letter states, " this law is accompanied by the provision of routine impunity for extrajudicial attacks against offenders they deem to be offenders."

Last year, there was a mass murder of student Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu after she was accused of blasphemy and serious unprovoked death threats against the Sultan of Sokoto, the Catholic bishop of Sokoto, and Rhoda Jatau, a Christian woman, all three of whom were targeted for expressing disapproval of Yakubu's murder.

More than 160 Christians were killed in coordinated attacks that began on the Saturday before Christmas and lasted until the holiday, two weeks after the letter was entered into congressional records and a week before the CPC list was released by the State Department. Hundreds of homes were also burned in Nigeria's predominantly Christian regions.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is also outraged that Nigeria is not on the CPC list, despite the organization's 2023 annual report recommending the country for inclusion.

USCIRF Chairman Abraham Cooper and USCIRF Vice Chairman Frederick Davie called for a congressional hearing on the State Department's "failure to follow our recommendations" regarding Nigeria in a statement published Thursday.

"There is no justification why the State Department does not appoint Nigerians... as a country of particular concern, regardless of its own reports and statements," USCIRF leaders said.

 USCIRF leaders described the Christmas massacre as "the latest example of deadly violence against religious communities in Nigeria that has even been condemned by the State Department, "adding that" the majority of Commissioners have traveled to Nigeria and noted the threat to freedom of religion or belief and the deadly implications for religious communities."

The USCIRF's recommendation to place Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on the CPC list was approved by the State Department. However, the list does not include five additional countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Syria and Vietnam.

According to the department, "major violations of religious freedom also occur in non-designated countries."

It was first published by the Christian Post.

News Sources : https://www.christiandaily.com/africa/religious-freedom-groups-criticize-biden-admin.html