Post by Webster on Jan 12, 2024 1:15:41 GMT -5
American Family News: Omission of Nigeria from 'countries of concern' a terrible mistake-Read more: afn.net/persecution/2024/01/11/omission-of-nigeria-from-countries-of-concern-a-terrible-mistake-brownback/
Christmas holiday massacres in Nigeria, where more than 140 Christians were killed, is just the latest in continuing attacks against followers of Jesus Christ in that country. But it's not enough to place Nigeria on the Biden administration's list of "Countries of Particular Concern" in terms of violations of religious freedom.
Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia and others make the list, but not Nigeria – and that greatly concerns Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.
Though its constitution assures religious freedom, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria by Islamic extremists since 2009, according to the Nigerian-based research and investigative rights group the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
Attacks on Christian farming communities in 26 villages in Plateau State, beginning on Dec. 23, were led by suspected extremists among Fulani Muslim herdsman, according to Christianity Today.
"It's one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian," Brownback said on Washington Watch Wednesday, referring to Nigeria. "The government there has been feckless, and the administration here has been feckless in holding them accountable …. [We know they've] got terrorist groups operating all over that nation, and the government there is doing nothing about it," he emphasized.
Brownback told show host Tony Perkins that Nigeria's absence from the State Department's list will spark growing unrest on the African continent. It's the second-straight year for the Biden administration to omit Nigeria from the list. "It's a terrible mistake, and it's going to just breed more problems in West Africa by them failing to do this," he adds.
Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia and others make the list, but not Nigeria – and that greatly concerns Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.
Though its constitution assures religious freedom, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria by Islamic extremists since 2009, according to the Nigerian-based research and investigative rights group the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
Attacks on Christian farming communities in 26 villages in Plateau State, beginning on Dec. 23, were led by suspected extremists among Fulani Muslim herdsman, according to Christianity Today.
"It's one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian," Brownback said on Washington Watch Wednesday, referring to Nigeria. "The government there has been feckless, and the administration here has been feckless in holding them accountable …. [We know they've] got terrorist groups operating all over that nation, and the government there is doing nothing about it," he emphasized.
Brownback told show host Tony Perkins that Nigeria's absence from the State Department's list will spark growing unrest on the African continent. It's the second-straight year for the Biden administration to omit Nigeria from the list. "It's a terrible mistake, and it's going to just breed more problems in West Africa by them failing to do this," he adds.