United States lawmakers have accused the Nigerian government of foot-dragging on measures to end the alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
The lawmakers convened a roundtable on Tuesday to discuss
the escalating violence in the country and what they say is a targeted
persecution of Christians.
Participants in the hearing included Mario Díaz-Balart,
house appropriations committee vice chair and national security, Department of
State, and related programmes subcommittee chairman; Robert Aderholt, labour,
health and human services, education, and related agencies subcommittee
chairman and values action team (VAT) chair; and Riley Moore, appropriations
legislative branch subcommittee vice chair and leading religious liberty
advocate.
Other participants included Brian Mast, foreign affairs
committee chairman; Chris Smith, foreign affairs Africa subcommittee chairman;
Vicky Hartzler, US Commission on International Religious Freedom chair; Sean
Nelson, Alliance Defending Freedom International; and Ebenezer Obadare, Council
on Foreign Relations.
During the discussions, Smith said, Christians and
“moderate” Muslims in Nigeria live under the constant threat of murder, rape,
and torture by radical Islamist groups, such as Boko Haram and Fulani
terrorists.
“The most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in
the world — as well as the systemic targeting and killing of moderate Muslims
who speak out against radical Islamists or refuse to conform with their extreme
ideals — occurs in Nigeria, the ground zero of religious violence,” he said.
The lawmaker added that the Nigerian government has a
constitutional obligation to protect its citizens but has failed, owing to how
the “perpetrators of this persecution operate with complete impunity”.
“The United States is committed to standing firmly with the
persecuted, no matter where in the world. Under the strong leadership of
President Trump, I am confident that the United States will hold the Nigerian
government accountable for its complicity in the rampant religious persecution
occurring within its borders,” he said.
“The Nigerian government is trying to run out the clock; we
cannot allow this to happen. We must act quickly and decisively to save more
lives.”
Díaz-Balart noted that defending religious liberty worldwide
is a moral duty and a vital part of America’s foreign policy.
“No one should live in fear because of how they worship,” he
said.
Díaz-Balart, who chairs the subcommittee that funds US
national security interests and foreign policy priorities, said he would
address the issue by passing a full-year funding measure in the FY26 funding
bill.
The lawmaker said it is essential to advancing an ‘America
First’ agenda.
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