Nigerian govt. forbids US designation of religious persecution

Obinwannem News Nigerian govt. forbids US designation of religious persecution

The federal government of Nigeria has taken a swipe at the recent list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), tolerating religious persecution, by the United States of America.

The US had blacklisted Nigeria for violating religious freedom, in 2019; including the latest designation this year, has made it the second time the country appeared on the list of CPC.

Michael Pompeo, US Secretary of State, stated on Monday that Nigeria, not excluding Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have been “designated as CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom”.

Reacting, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, described the listing as a case of honest disagreement between the two nations on the causes of violence in Nigeria.

Mohammed said in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, that Nigeria is a proponent of freedom as inscribed in the country’s constitution, and does not have a “policy of religious” persecution, regardless.

”Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation, neither does it have a policy of religious persecution. Victims of insecurity and terrorism in the country are adherents of Christianity, Islam and other religions,” the minister said.

Ozoemela Chikwas reporting, Obinwannem News

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