US Delists Nigeria from Religious violators’ List

The US has removed Nigeria from its list of religious violators, while also designating Russia, China, and eight other countries as “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated’systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced this in a statement titled ‘Religious Freedom Designations’ on Wednesday.

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While the United States placed Nigeria and six other countries on its special watch list in 2020 for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom, Nigeria was not on the list of countries designated for religious violations in 2021.

Blinken, who is currently on an official visit in Kenya, is scheduled to visit Nigeria this week and meet with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of his cabinet.

The US Secretary of State, in his statement on Wednesday, said, “The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country.”

“In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs.”

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This Administration is committed to supporting every individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right.

“Each year the Secretary of State has the responsibility to identify governments and non-state actors, who, because of their religious freedom violations, merit designation under the International Religious Freedom Act.”

“I am designating Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”