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Fri, Mar

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The United States has on Monday announced that it has placed Nigeria on a religious freedom violation blacklist after growing complaints of insecurity by Christian groups. This is in line with the US law which requires countries to be designated under either engage in or tolerate "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom". Other Countries designated including China, Iran, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The announcement was made by Mike Pompeo, US secretary of State on Twitter, saying Nigeria has been designated as a "Country of Particular Concern", adding that "no country or entity should be allowed to persecute people with impunity because of their beliefs".

"Today the U.S. designates Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for engaging systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations," Pompeo said.


"The U.S. is unwavering in its commitment to religious freedom. No country or entity should be allowed to persecute people with impunity because of their beliefs. These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act.


"The U.S. is sanctioning the senior leadership of China's National People's Congress in connection with developing, adopting, and implementing the National Security Law. We will hold Beijing accountable for destroying Hong Kong's autonomy. #StandWithHongKong #FightForFreedom."

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