The United States on Friday issued a warning to Nigeria and two other countries over what it perceives as lack of religious freedom and persecution of minority groups.

The Donald Trump administration states that Nigeria remains a ‘country of particular concern,’ even as Sudan was removed from the blacklist of countries lacking religious freedom.

The State Department said in its latest report on religious freedom that minorities in Nigeria had reported discrimination, including limits on free expression and in obtaining government employment.



The State Department pointed to the lack of accountability in violent crackdowns on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, a pro-Iran Shiite group, and the arrest of a Christian man for attempting to convert a Muslim girl.

The State Department added Cuba, Nicaragua and Nigeria to a watchlist of countries that could face a full designation if they do not improve their records.

The United States had lifted “fast-changing Sudan” from a blacklist for religious freedom violations, even as it issued warnings to Nigeria, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Sudan was the only nation removed from the State Department’s annual list of “countries of particular concern,” which are subject to sanctions if they do not better protect religious liberty.

Civilian economist Abdalla Hamdok became Sudan’s prime minister in September, pledging national reconciliation after decades of military rule and conflict.

But Hamdok’s government is still waiting for a bigger prize from the United States — removal from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that has severely impeded investment.

Nine countries remained on the blacklist, including Pakistan, which was designated in 2018 after years of US hesitation over concerns on the treatment of minorities, including through abuse of a blasphemy law, which can carry the death penalty.

Also on the list was China, which, according to rights groups and US officials, has incarcerated at least one million Uighurs and other Muslims; and US ally Saudi Arabia, which imposes the rigid Wahabi school of Islam.



The other countries on the list were Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

“No country, entity or individual should be able to persecute people of faith without accountability,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

“We have acted, and we will continue to do so,” he said, calling religious freedom a priority for President Donald Trump’s administration.

The State Department said that religious groups faced restrictions and harassment in both Cuba and Nicaragua, leftist-led nations that have come under growing pressure from Trump.

Russia and Comoros remained on the watchlist. Sudan as well as Uzbekistan, which was removed from the blacklist in 2018, were also on the watchlist.

The latest designations, notably, did not target India despite mounting concern from US lawmakers over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist agenda, including a citizenship law that has prompted widespread protests over charges it marginalises Muslims.

(AFP)
https://punchng.com/religious-freedom-nigeria-remains-a-country-of-particular-concern-us/

The world is watching. Nigerians are alert more than ever before. Islamization will not work.

referandum:
The world is watching. Nigerians are alert more than ever before. Islamization will not work.

Our leaders are nonchalant

referandum:
The world is watching. Nigerians are alert more than ever before. Islamization will not work.

With all the churches and mosque everywhere in Nigeria, this must be fake news? Only people that don't live in Nigeria will believe this crap.

Whatever US wants to do, let them do.


Just me, I wan comot this country ho ha

sapele914:
With all the churches and mosque everywhere in Nigeria, this must be fake news? Only people that don't live in Nigeria will believe this crap.

Nigeria is going through hard time

Mynd44 was here

Do our politicians care?
They can sacrifice their families to get crumbs from the Hausa fulani people that have been controlling the affairs of Nigeria since time immemorial.

People that are not proud of who they are.
Shame to southern Nigeria.

Nigeria isn't as Immaculate as 1966, meaning she has lost her integrity among the leagues of nations.

sassysure:
Do our politicians care?
They can sacrifice their families to get crumbs from the Hausa fulani people that have been controlling the affairs of Nigeria since time immemorial.

People that are not proud of who they are.
Shame to southern Nigeria.

It cant continue like this forever

Fake news

The State Department said in its latest report on religious freedom that minorities in Nigeria had reported discrimination, including limits on free expression and in obtaining government employment.


To get any appointment in Buhari federal government, one must either be a practising Muslim or practising zombie or both.

scribble:
The State Department said in its latest report on religious freedom that minorities in Nigeria had reported discrimination, including limits on free expression and in obtaining government employment.


To get any appointment in Buhari federal government, one must either be a practising Muslim or practising zombie or both.

Then why are you still unemployed? Why didn't your State, or Local Government give you a job, or are they also practicing nepotism and tribalism? Better go and check yourself.

sassysure:
Do our politicians care?
They can sacrifice their families to get crumbs from the Hausa fulani people that have been controlling the affairs of Nigeria since time immemorial.

People that are not proud of who they are.
Shame to southern Nigeria.

Which Southern Nigeria? If you want to call names, be specific. Was it not same Southern Nigeria that fought for the independence of South East and South South from Nigeria?

MasterKernel:
Nigeria isn't as Immaculate as 1966, meaning she has lost her integrity among the leagues of nations.

Wrong, don't mean to bust your miscrued illusion Nigeria is waxing stronger, sorry if you were left back in the future of the year of our Lord 1966, please help me greet Tafawa Balewa, and Nnamdi Azikiwe.

sapele914:
Wrong, Nigeria is waxing stronger, sorry if you were left in 1966, please help me greet Tafawa Balewa, and Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Oga, kindly tell the world one aspect, Nigeria has made gain since 1960, thanks.

MasterKernel:


Oga, kindly tell the world one aspect, Nigeria has made gain since 1960, thanks.

What a stupid request?,Go and ask your parents, If you have refused to elevate yourself, socially, economically or finacially, it's your fault, if you are looking for socialism, I heard North Korea is offering citizenship.

this is one of the reason why Muslim were celebrating trump impeachment,,, but forgot that he has not been removed,,,,
islimization agenda is dead on arrival

the nonsense Nigerians are playing with is just not boomeranging because Trump is a business man and not a career politician.. if it were Obama or Hilary that held sway the affairs of US, sanctions would have flowed in and media war flying in like they did to Jonathan when he rejected Gay right

US would never allow war in a country as large as Nigeria with such huge crude reserve.. this owuld disrupte everything from migration to global oil prices so they would rather eliminate the threats like they eliminated abacha and abiola before ordering the return of democracy

..

The State Department said in its latest report on religious freedom that minorities in Nigeria had reported discrimination, including limits on free expression and in obtaining government employment.

Buhari is leaving a very bad precedent on matters of nepotism that would affect the country after he leaves.

Muric come to mind

[s]

itsme01:



the nonsense Nigerians are playing with is just not boomeranging because Trump is a business man and not a career politician.. if it were Obama or Hilary that held sway the affairs of US, sanctions would have flowed in and media war flying in like they did to Jonathan when he rejected Gay right

US would never allow war in a country as large as Nigeria with such huge crude reserve.. this owuld disrupte everything from migration to global oil prices so they would rather eliminate the threats like they eliminated abacha and abiola before ordering the return of democracy

..

[/s]

sapele914:
What a stupid request?,Go and ask your parents, If you have refused to elevate yourself, socially, economically or finacially, it's your fault, if you are looking for socialism, I heard North Korea is offering citizenship.

You crossed the red line when you mentioned my parents while hurling tantrums.

I think anybody who has been abused as a kid by various people will say it's irrational because violence is irrational.

I'm sorry if your parents couldn't embed the right values and morals properly because one was a deadbeat parent.

Are your parents still alive?

referandum:
The world is watching. Nigerians are alert more than ever before. Islamization will not work.

Please check the their ratings from 1999 till date Nigeria has continued to remain a concern to them.

P&ID has stopped paying someone for his traitorous job, now he has gone back to finding anything news he can use against the Nigeria. What a shame.

Stalwert:


Please check the their ratings from 1999 till date Nigeria has continued to remain a concern to them.

P&ID has stopped paying someone for his traitorous job, now he has gone back to finding anything news he can use against the Nigeria. What a shame.

Threat is real now than ever before

The owners of the zoo called nigeria has spoken.

Lalasticlala

See where just 4 years of useless Islamic Terrorist called Buhari has taken us in four years ..now Sudan is considered more religion tolerant than Nigeria ...Again I ask show me one sector that Buhari hasn't dragged us back

since GMB took over Nigeria has been in the news mostly for wrong reasons

Omooba77:

Threat is real now than ever before

The threat is "real now than ever before" because hungry dependents of failed thief thief party PDthieves is not feeding boys or sharing crumbs.

Stalwert:


The threat is "real now than ever before" because hungry dependents of failed thief thief party PDthieves is not feeding boys or sharing crumbs.

You are still believing old lies, where is Akpabio, El-Rufai,Obanikoro and co now. Why is Nigeria existence threatened under this regime?
Mr Stalwert grow up sir.