FG Refutes Allegation Of Religious Freedom Violation

The Nigerian government says it does not condone or engage in religious persecution of any form.

Ekohotblog reports that the government said this in reaction to designation of Nigeria by United States as one of the countries with worrisome and questionable religious freedom record.

The United state had on Monday said Nigeria, alongside nine other countries, is “engaging in systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations”.

Also blacklisted for international religious freedom violation are Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan.

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State who announced the move, said his country will continue to act when “religious freedom is attacked”.

But reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, said Nigeria is unflinchingly and unequivocally committed to upholding citizens right to practise religion of their choice as it is enshrine in the constitution.

He said the allegation is stirred by “honest disagreement between the two nations on the causes of violence in Nigeria”.

”Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation, neither does it have a policy of religious persecution,”

Also Read: US Blacklists Nigeria For Religious Freedom Violations

He noted that terrorism, which has ravaged the northern part of the country for years on end, is no respecter of religion because Muslims, Christians and other religions have been haunted by the spectre of insecurity.

“Victims of insecurity and terrorism in the country are adherents of Christianity, Islam and other religions.”

The minister said the country “jealously protects religious freedom as enshrined in the country’s constitution and takes seriously any infringements in this regard”.