03
Dec
Dec
US LAWMAKERS CONDEMN NIGERIA OVER CHRISTIAN TARGETING, DEMAND END TO SHARIA LAW
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 days
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The United States Congress on Tuesday escalated its investigation into religious persecution in Nigeria, with lawmakers overwhelmingly asserting that killings in the nation specifically target Christians and vowing to stand firmly with Nigeria’s Christian communities. The joint House congressional session, led by Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, followed President Donald Trump’s October 31 directive to probe the slaughter of Christians and his redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. During the hearing, witnesses and legislators accused the Nigerian government of enabling what they termed “religious cleansing” through inaction and systemic policies. Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, testified that Sharia criminal law and Hisbah religious-police groups in twelve northern states provide “ideological and operational cover” for jihadist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. He urged direct U.S. diplomatic pressure to abolish these structures. “The United States should work with the Nigerian military to neutralise Boko Haram, and then pressure President Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states and disband the Hisbah groups enforcing Islamic law on all citizens regardless of religion,” Obadare said. While acknowledging Nigerian actions such as airstrikes, police recruitment, and a security emergency declaration, he insisted the U.S. must “keep up the pressure.” Lawmakers cited recent mass abductions, blasphemy imprisonments, and deadly attacks as evidence of state failure. Rep. Chris Smith described Nigeria as “ground zero for global anti-Christian persecution,” and Rep. Brian Mast demanded immediate militia disarmament and attacker prosecutions. Officials from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Alliance Defending Freedom International detailed atrocities and urged conditionality on security aid and targeted sanctions. The hearing solidified a bipartisan consensus that dismantling Sharia and Hisbah is central to addressing the crisis. Lawmakers confirmed a formal report is being drafted for President Trump, which may recommend U.S. aid restrictions if Nigeria fails to act. Nigeria was first designated a CPC in 2020 under Trump, a status reversed by President Biden before reinstatement this year with a warning of possible military action if extremist violence is not curbed.