US removes Nigeria from religious violators’ list

0
579

The United States has removed Nigeria from its list of religious violators, even as it 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.”

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

While the US 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.

Blinken, who is currently in East African nation Kenya on an official visit, is scheduled to physically visit Nigeria this week and meet with the Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and other members of his cabinet.

The US Secretary of State, in his statement today, 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.”



READ ALSO! Nigerian Central Bank Approves Disbursement Of Loans For Creative Industries At 9%

READ ALSO! Tony Elumelu To Empower 1,000 Northern Entrepreneurs With $5000 Each

READ ALSO! How To Empower Yourself And Generate Income From Mutual Funds

READ ALSO! Is N-Power Truly Empowering Nigerian Youths?

READ ALSO! How Nigerian Govt Can Lift 100million People Out Of Poverty — Tony Elumelu

READ ALSO! TraderMoni: Poverty Alleviation Or Political Leverage?

READ ALSO! Is N-Power Truly Empowering Nigerian Youths?

READ ALSO! Gtbank 737 Disservice: How to Kick Your Customers in the Butt!

READ ALSO! Why The North Remains Headquarters Of Poverty In Nigeria — Kingsley Moghalu

READ ALSO! The Love Of Your Life Is An Illusion: It Doesn’t Exist Anywhere!