The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the U.S. Department of State’s removal of Nigeria from the list of countries of particular concern religious freedom.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the removal of Nigeria from the list of violators of religious freedom, saying it was properly placed in 2020.
The USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza said that the State Department should reconsider its designations based on facts presented and restore Nigeria back to the place it belongs on the list.
“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,” he said.
According to the 2021 special watch list of religious freedom, The Biden administration grouped Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua. The USCIRF suggested in its 2021 Annual Report that Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan also be placed on the special watch list.
See the list of countries of particular concern religious freedom 2021 pdf.
