Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) on a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding answers on why Nigeria was removed from the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and requesting they be placed back on the list.
“Religious people in Nigeria face severe persecution at the hands of radical terrorist groups and even their own government. In fact, more Christians are murdered for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country. Violent attacks against religious congregations perpetrated by Boko Haram, Islamic State-West Africa, and others target Christians and Muslims alike. Not only has the government of Nigeria failed to take meaningful steps to mitigate such violence, but Nigerian authorities restrict and crack down on religious minorities and detain individuals indefinitely on blasphemy-related charges,” the senators wrote.
“Yet this year, without explanation, the Department of State has removed Nigeria completely from its lists of severe religious freedom violators. We find this development alarming given Nigeria’s appalling record,” they continued.
In addition to requesting Nigeria be redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern, the Senators also asked for answers to the following questions:
- Why did the Department of State remove Nigeria not only from its list of Countries of Particular Concern, but also from its Special Watch List? Please provide the Department’s specific reasoning for this decision.
- Which criteria were used to make the Department’s decision? Were factors not related to religious freedom considered in the decision-making process?
- How does the Department’s decision comply with the statutory requirements under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, specifically the requirement in 22 U.S.C. § 6442(b)(1)(B) for the president to fully consider the CPC recommendations of USCIRF when making CPC determinations?
- Was the substance and/or timing of the Department’s announcement made with regard to any official state travel by you or any other official in the Biden Administration?
Senators Cramer and Hawley are joined on this letter by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Braun (R-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Marco Rubio (R-FL).