FIRST on FOX – The Biden Administration is under pressure from a number of human rights and religious organizations for not designating Nigeria a country of particular concern (“CPC”) in the wake of the brutal murder of more than 200 Christians.
In a letter sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken by two dozen groups including Advancing America Freedom, Alliance Defending Freedom and the Hudson Institute as well as former Ambassador Sam Brownback, and former defense and security officials, scolded State Department over its “refusal to designate Nigeria a CPC” – calling this lack of action “unconscionable.”
“A little over two weeks ago, nearly 200 Nigerian Christians were martyred while celebrating Christmas. According to some accounts, these Christians were “killed for sports.” Just weeks before, the Christian Association of Nigeria had received a threat against celebrating Christmas.
The letter continues, “The international community of religious freedom is outraged by your refusal to hold evil acts accountable.”
WORLD LOOKES OTHER WAY AS CHRISTIANS ARE ‘KILLED BY JIHADISTS FOR SPORT’ IN NIGERIA
Gunmen attacked Bokkos in north-central Nigeria on Tuesday. (AP)
The letter states that Intersociety, a Nigerian nonprofit organization that promotes civil liberties and rule of law, found that over 52,000 Christians were killed and that more than 14,000,000 Christians had been forced to leave Nigeria since 2009.
Intersociety found in the same time period that 18 000 churches and 2 200 schools were attacked.
CHRISTMAS EVE ATTACK IN NIGERIA LEAVES AT LEAST 140 PEOPLE DEAD, HOMES BURNED
Secretary-of-State Antony Blinken Pool photo by Eugene Hoshiko (AP Photo)
Blinken announced on Jan. 4 that he had designated a number of countries as CPCs, including Iran, Russia and Nigeria. was noticeably left off the list.
In the letter, it is stated that, “within a few hours” of Blinken’s announcement, USCIRF called for a hearing in Congress, and advocates of international religious freedom “publicly criticised” his decision.
RESOLUTION INTRODUCED TO RELIST NIGERIA AS A ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ FOR CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION
USCIRF, a federal government agency created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1988, is composed of commissioners appointed by the President and a group of bipartisan congressional leaders.
Nigeria, a Boko Haram hub, was added to this list under the Trump administration, but it has not been on the list since the year 2021.
Nigeria, according to Pew Research Center has the largest Christian population in Africa with more than 80 million believers.
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“The United States is seen by the rest of the world as a beacon for hope and freedom.” The letter says that religious freedom is rooted in American founding and enshrined by the Bill of Rights. It’s also fundamental to what it means for an American to be.
The article concludes, “When the United States remains silent while evil is allowed to run amok, the rest of the world notices.”