Cape News

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, along with Senators Mike Braun and Marco Rubio, penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing deep disappointment over the State Department's refusal to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The letter highlighted the ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria and urged immediate action to address the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country.

In the letter, the Senators emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "You must not stand idly by while Nigerian Christians continue to be murdered for their faith. We urge you to immediately use the tools at your disposal and re-designate Nigeria as a CPC."

The Senators criticized the State Department's inaction in the face of repeated violent attacks against Christians, with Hawley pointing out, "Apparently, your Department believes these repeated, violent attacks against Christians can be attributed to climate change. That is absurd."

They also highlighted the horrific massacre of Nigerian Christians during the past Christmas season, where Islamic extremists killed at least 140 people. The letter underscored the severity of the situation, describing it as a "targeted attack carried out with shocking brutality."

Senator Hawley reiterated his commitment to holding the Biden Administration accountable, stating, "We will continue to conduct oversight and hold the Biden Administration accountable until you fulfill your obligation under the law."

The Senators called on Secretary Blinken to take immediate action and re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedom in the country.

The letter concluded with a strong message urging the State Department to address the ongoing religious freedom violations in Nigeria promptly and effectively.