The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged the Trump administration to appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria to address escalating religious freedom violations. The report identified Nigeria and other nations as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) due to the violent actions of nonstate actors and ineffective governmental responses. The commission’s findings emphasized the continuing threat to religious minorities in the region, exacerbated by extremist groups and blasphemy laws.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the Trump administration to appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin to address significant religious freedom violations. In their annual report for March 2025, USCIRF emphasized the need for enhanced diplomatic efforts in the region as violence escalates against various religious groups, particularly by nonstate actors motivated by religious ideologies.
In its report, USCIRF indicated that Nigeria, alongside Afghanistan, India, and Vietnam, should be designated as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) by the U.S. State Department. Furthermore, the report recommended the redesignation of twelve other countries as CPCs, including China, Iran, and North Korea, citing ongoing severe religious freedoms violations globally. They also urged the State Department to maintain Algeria and Azerbaijan on the Special Watch List, adding ten nations to it.
The commission highlighted the enforcement of blasphemy laws in Nigeria, which impose severe penalties, including imprisonment, for perceived insults against religious figures. Specific cases were mentioned, including Mubarak Bala, sentenced for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, and Yahaya Sharif–Aminu, whose death sentence was put on retrial due to legal intervention.
Religious minorities in both Muslim-majority and Christian-majority areas of Nigeria face heightened scrutiny and restrictions, with reports of indigenous shrines being demolished and local governance calling for the eradication of indigenous religious practices. USCIRF’s report noted continuous tolerance towards violent actions by militant groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani militants against religious communities.
The report detailed various instances of violence, highlighting attacks by groups aligned with extremist ideologies that have terrorized local Christian populations, resulting in fatalities and kidnappings. USCIRF criticized the inadequate response of Nigerian security forces to these incidents, noting the persistent threats and disruptive activities faced by Christian farmers due to banditry and religious extremism.
The USCIRF’s recent report underscores the dire state of religious freedom in Nigeria, calling for urgent U.S. diplomatic intervention and the appointment of a Special Envoy. The highlighted religious violence and government’s failure to adequately respond accentuate the critical need for global awareness and action regarding the severe human rights violations in the region. Additionally, redesignation of certain countries and groups indicates a broader concern for religious freedoms worldwide, necessitating continued advocacy and international pressure.
Original Source: saharareporters.com
