The Federal Government has hailed the United States for removing Nigeria from its list of countries with religious freedom concerns, calling the decision fair and just.
This followed a statement by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, titled: ‘Religious Freedom Designations’ removing Nigeria from the United States’ list of religious violators, even as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has faulted the removal of Nigeria from the list of “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”
In a statement issued in Paris, France, yesterday, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed reiterated Nigeria’s earlier stand when it was put on the list in December, 2020, that it does not engage in religious freedom violation or have a policy of religious persecution.
He said Nigeria jealously protects religious freedom as enshrined in the country’s Constitution and takes seriously any infringements in that regard.
“We will continue to ensure that every Nigerian has the freedom to practice his or her own chosen religion or belief without hindrance,” the minister said.
He commended religious leaders in the country who have been working to ensure religious harmony.
Blinken’s statement last Wednesday, had announced the removal of Nigeria from the list of countries that limit religious freedoms around the world.
This is as the American government blacklisted 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.”
While the U.S. had in 2020 placed Nigeria and six other countries on its special watch list of states that had engaged in or tolerated the severe violation of religious freedom, Nigeria was missing from the list of countries designated in the 2021 list for religious violations.
The U.S. also designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.
Blinken touched down in Abuja yesterday on an official visit to Nigeria, and will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, and other members of his cabinet as well as other key stakeholders in the business community, among others.
The US Secretary of State, in his statement, last 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. 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.
“I am also placing Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated ‘severe violations of religious freedom’.
“Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.”
Meanwhile, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has faulted the removal of Nigeria from the list of “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”
The USCIRF, which described itself as “an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyse, and report on religious freedom abroad”, said it “finds it unexplainable that the U.S. Department of State did not re-designate Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and treated it as a country with no severe religious freedom violations.”
In a statement, titled, ‘USCIRF Appalled at Administration’s Removal of Nigeria from List of Violators of Religious Freedom’, USCIRF Chair, Nadine Maenza, expressed disappointment over the development, urging the Secretary of State to reconsider its decision.
“USCIRF is disappointed that the State Department did not adopt our recommendations in designating the countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom.
“While the State Department took steps forward on some designations, USCIRF is especially displeased with the removal of Nigeria from its CPC designation, where it was rightfully placed last year, as well as the omission of India, Syria, and Vietnam. We urge the State Department to reconsider its designations based on facts presented in its own reporting,” he said.