We're Disappointed: US Agency Slams Blinken For Removing Nigeria From Religious Freedom Violators' List
- An agency in the US, US Commission on International Religious Freedom, has rejected the exclusion of Nigeria from the religious freedom violators' list
- The USCIRF said the decision of the Department of State to removal Nigeria from the list goes against its 2020 report
- The agency which expressed disappointment over the resolve called on the US government to reconsider and return Nigeria to the list
The removal of Nigeria from the list of religious freedom violators across the world has been opposed by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
According to the USCIRF, the Department of State did not follow its recommendation to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) but went ahead to tag it merely as a nation with no severe religious freedom violations, PM News reports.
Source: Facebook
USCIRF's head, Nadine Maenza, in a statement on Wednesday, November 17, said the agency is disappointed with the decision of the US government.
The agency, therefore, called on the Department of State to reconsider and act on the facts revealed in its 2020 reports.
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Maenza said:
“USCIRF is disappointed that the State Department did not adopt our recommendations in designating the countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom.
“While the State Department took steps forward on some designations, USCIRF is especially displeased with the removal of Nigeria from its CPC designation, where it was rightfully placed last year, as well as the omission of India, Syria, and Vietnam.
“We urge the State Department to reconsider its designations based on facts presented in its own reporting.”
Nigeria's fate decided as US releases full list of nations violating religious freedom
Earlier, the President Joe Biden-led government in the United States (US) on Wednesday, November 17, restated its full support for religious tolerance as it fights against the violation of human rights to worship across the world.
This commitment on the part of the US government was made known by its secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who was scheduled to visit Nigeria soon.
Blinken in his statement said that Nigeria had been removed from the list of nations infamous for violating the religious freedom of citizens and foreigners.
Source: Legit.ng
