AAF Coalition Letter to Secretary Blinken concerning Nigeria

Download the full document (PDF)

The Honorable Antony Blinken Secretary U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20520

Your refusal to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (“CPC”) for severe violations of religious freedom is completely unconscionable.

Less than two weeks ago, almost 200 Nigerian Christians became martyrs while celebrating Christmas. According to one account, these Christians were “killed for sport.”1 Just weeks earlier, the Christian Association of Nigeria received a letter threatening them against celebrating Christmas.2

If this is not religious persecution, then what is?

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigeria-based nonprofit, has found that more than 52,000 Christians have been killed and more than 14 million Christians have been forced to flee Nigeria since 2009. Over that same period, Intersociety also found that 18,000 churches and 2,200 schools have been attacked.3

Again - if this is not religious persecution, then what is?

The international religious freedom community stands outraged at your refusal to hold these acts of evil to account. Within hours of your announcement, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (“USCIRF”) called for a congressional hearing, and international religious freedom advocates publicly criticized your decision.4567

While the Trump-Pence Administration designated Nigeria as a CPC, your administration has reversed this designation without explanation as to why the slaughter of Nigerian Christians is not “of Particular Concern” to the U.S. Department of State.

1 Paul Tilsley, “World looks other way as Christians 'killed for sport by jihadists' in Nigeria,’” Fox News, Published December 30, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/world/world-looks-other-way-christians-killed-sport-jihadists-nigeria. 2 “Christmas Massacre in Nigeria,” Release International, Published December 30, 2023, https://releaseinternational.org/christmas-massacrenigeria/. 3 “5,068 Citizens Massacred for Being Christians in Nigeria in 2022,” Intersociety, Accessed January 5, 2024, https://intersociety-ng.org/5068citizens-massacred-for-being-christians-in-nigeria-in-2022-1041-slaughtered-in-first-100-days-of-2023/.

4 “USCIRF Calls for Congressional Hearing After State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria,” USCIRF, Published January 4, 2024, https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/uscirf-calls-congressional-hearing-after-state-department-fails. 5 Sean Nelson (@Sean_ADFIntl), “Once again, Nigeria not even mentioned on the @StateDept religious freedom violators list…,” Twitter, January 4, 2024, https://x.com/Sean_ADFIntl/status/1743026089524687256.

6 Arielle Del Turco (@arielledelturco), “It is reprehensible that the State Department refused to name Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern…,” January 4, 2024, https://x.com/arielledelturco/status/1743071114568339517 7 McKenna Wendt (@mckenna_wendt), “Speechless that the plight of Christians in Nigeria has been overlooked yet again…,” January 4, 2024, https://twitter.com/mckenna_wendt/status/1743033333083246593.

The eyes of the world look to the United States as a beacon of hope and freedom. Religious freedom is grounded in the American founding, enshrined in the Bill of Rights, and quintessential to what it means to be an American. When the United States stands silent as evil runs amok, the world takes notice.

We request that you immediately reverse course and re-designate Nigeria as a CPC.

Paul Teller Frank Wolf Executive Director Former Member Advancing American Freedom United States Congress Tony Perkins Kristen Waggoner Former Chair President and CEO U.S.

Commission on Alliance Defending Freedom International Religious Freedom ADF International Ambassador Sam Brownback Maureen Blum The Brownback Group Executive Director Catholics Count Brent Bozell Nina Shea Founder and President Director Media Research Center Center for Religious Freedom Hudson Institute Rick Santorum Andrea Picciotti-Bayer Chairman Director Patriot Voices Conscience Project Brian Burch Jane Adolphe President Executive Director CatholicVote International Catholic Jurists Forum McKenna Wendt Richard Perle Advocacy Manager Former Assistant Secretary International Christian Concern Department of Defense Arielle Del Turco Kristen A.

Ullman Director of the Center for Religious Liberty President Family Research Council Eagle Forum Tom McClusky Sarah Makin Director of Government Affairs Former Senior Director CatholicVote National Security Council

J. Michael Waller Greg Tweddell Senior Strategy Analyst Founding Pastor Center for Security Policy Ignition633 Ministries Larry Cirignano William Murray Children First Foundation President Religious Freedom Coalition Evans Nnamdi Nwankwo The Honorable George K Rasley Jr President & CEO Managing Editor Megen Construction Company ConservativeHQ.com Rev. Dr. Art Lindsley Ben Nwankwo Chairman of the Board President Transform World A.W.A. Organization