A group of faith leaders has sent a letra to President Donald Trump thanking him for his recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Interim President Gary Hollingsworth was among the letter’s signers. The ERLC has long advocated a CPC designation for Nigeria.

Christians have been targeted in the West African nation in “horrifying numbers,” the letter says.

“We commend your (President Trump) recognition of the major threat and devastation facing Christians in Nigeria from radical Islamists and a government that has taken little action to protect them, as well as your clear-eyed statements placing all available Presidential actions on the table to ensure that action is taken soon,” it continues. “You saw the evidence, you listened to the cries of the persecuted, and you acted.”

A CPC designation against another country doesn’t require any U.S. action. It does, however, authorize the U.S. government to take further steps, such as sanctions and negotiations, to pressure the offending nation to protect religious freedoms.

Designating Nigeria as a CPC has been an ERLC policy priority for several years. The designation was applied briefly in 2020, but removed in 2021 by the incoming Biden administration.

Christians in Nigeria face regular attacks from terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State-West Africa, and Fulani militants, the letter says, and the Nigerian government has failed to bring any of the attackers to justice.

“Beyond the mass killings, millions have been forced to flee their homes; many are kidnapped and trafficked, particularly young girls, who are often forced to convert to Islam and forced into sham marriages; and many suffer at the hands of Nigeria’s draconian blasphemy laws that mandate the death penalty and inspire widespread mob violence,” the letter says.

In comments to media, Hollingsworth said Trump’s action “affirms what many Christians have long recognized: the existential threat facing Christians in Nigeria demands urgent attention.

“The ERLC’s advocacy for religious liberty in Nigeria has been consistent and proactive,” he said.

ERLC actions in support of Nigerian Christians include:

• Backing a House resolution from New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) that called for the CPC label for Nigeria and sending letters the following year to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging for the designation.
• Support for a resolution from Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) that calls for recognizing religious freedom as a fundamental right, expressing support for international religious freedom as a cornerstone of United States foreign policy and expressing concern over increased threats to and attacks on religious freedom around the world.
• Sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting immediate action on the issue.
• Awarding the ERLC’s annual John Leland Award, which is given to a person or group who has been “a courageous champion of religious liberty both in the United States and around the world,” to Congressman Smith in 2024 and this year, to the Christians of Nigeria.
• And most recently, supporting a resolution from Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) condemning the persecution of Nigerian Christians and thanking Trump for his action.

The faith leaders’ letter calls for Nigeria to remain a CPC until it meets four criteria:

• Increased government-provided security for Christians
• Ending impunity for attackers
• Safe return of internally displaced people
• Refusal to enforce and eventual repeal of the country’s Sharia blasphemy laws and release of those imprisoned for violating those laws

CPAC Foundation originated the letter, and its main signers are CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp and CPAC Senior Fellow Mercedes Schlapp. In addition to Hollingsworth, signatories include Alliance Defending Freedom President Kristen Waggoner, American Center for Law and Justice Executive Director Jordan Sekulow, former Congressman Frank Wolf, Colson Center President John Stonestreet, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and many others.

“While the U.S. should defend religious freedom for all people, we agree that the threat to Christians worldwide is particularly severe, that Christians are the most persecuted religious group on the planet, and that the scourge of the persecution of Christians has been ignored by too many for too long,” the letter says.

“ … The U.S. should stand as a beacon for the fundamental right to religious freedom and a voice for persecuted Christians globally, because if we do not stand, no one else will.”

See the full letter and list of signatories aquí.

Este artículo apareció originalmente en prensa bautista y ha sido reimpreso con permiso.

Laura Erlanson is managing editor of Baptist Press.