WASHIINGTON — Republican Rep. Michael Baumgartner joined a Congressional visit to Nigeria to call on the country’s leadership to protect religious freedom as it faces increased global scrutiny over terrorist attacks.
In a press release, Baumgartner echoed the White House’s concern that Nigerian Christians have been targeted by Islamic terrorists over their faith.
“This Christmas, while families gather in safety here at home to celebrate, Nigerian Christians are facing a nightmare from Islamic terrorists,” Baumgartner wrote in a statement.
An Associated Press report in November citing interviews with people who live in Nigeria painted a more complicated picture of what is happening in the west African nation. Residents and experts acknowledged that Christians are targeted because of their faith, however Muslims and others are also victims of the widespread violence.
Data cited in that report showed that Muslims make up a disproportionate part of victims of violence in the north of Nigeria.
Congressional delegation members met with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills and spoke with Nigerian officials about ways the country could address violence against Christians.
Baumgartner has also signed onto a resolution condemning persecution of Christians in Nigeria. That resolution has 36 cosponsors, all of whom are Republicans.
President Donald Trump declared Nigeria a country of particular concern under U.S. religious freedom laws in November, a move criticized by Nigerian officials but welcomed by at least some Christians in the country.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom praised the president’s move at the time and argued the designation would help protect religious freedom for Christians, Muslims and others.
