By Bronson Jayamanna
NIGERIA (CWBN)_ Last Tuesday (8th December), The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, listed Nigeria as a country of concern “under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for engaging systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations.”
The sectary of state continued to say, “The U.S. is unwavering in its commitment to religious freedom. No country or entity should be allowed to persecute people with impunity because of their beliefs. These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act.”
Nevertheless, in response, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, dismissed the accusations and stated that the U.S.’s claims as being false. He further pointed out that the claims were due to “a case of an honest disagreement between the two nations on the causes of violence in Nigeria”.
The minister’s message was delivered by a statement issued last Tuesday in Abuja by Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to The President (Media) Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.
The minister went on to say that, “Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation; neither does it have a policy of religious persecution. Victims of insecurity and terrorism in the country are adherents of Christianity, Islam and other religions,”.
Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed further mentioned that the country “jealously protects religious freedom” as it is protected by “the country’s constitution and takes seriously any infringements in this regard,”.
The U.S. Sectary of state also classified the nations of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, Iran, Eritrea, Myanmar, North Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as being countries of concern.
