Texas Senator, Ted Cruz has put forward a new bill aimed at holding certain Nigerian officials accountable for ongoing violations of religious freedom.
The proposal, known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, focuses on responding to the treatment of Christians and other religious minorities in the country.
The legislation seeks to apply specific penalties, such as travel restrictions and financial sanctions, on Nigerian government figures believed to be involved in either promoting or failing to address religious violence and blasphemy-related arrests. It also calls for the U.S. State Department to formally recognize Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a designation that would increase diplomatic pressure related to religious rights.
Cruz stated that the bill is intended to ensure there are consequences for actions that limit religious expression or allow violence to continue unchecked. He urged other lawmakers to support the measure, which relies on both new and existing tools within U.S. foreign policy.
In recent years, religious tensions in Nigeria have drawn international concern. Human rights groups report that thousands of Christians have been killed in attacks by extremist groups and local militias. One group, International Christian Concern, estimates that more than 52,000 Christians have died in related violence since 2009. More than 20,000 places of worship, schools, and ministry centers have reportedly been destroyed.
Some Nigerian states continue to enforce Sharia-based laws, which include blasphemy rules that are used to detain individuals for statements considered offensive to Islam. These laws have been criticized for encouraging community enforcement and vigilante responses, often with little or no legal oversight. According to recent figures, over 30 individuals were arrested on such charges as of 2023, many of whom remain in custody awaiting trial.
A particularly deadly incident in June 2024 brought renewed attention to the issue. In that single night, over 200 people were killed in Plateau State, reportedly by armed groups connected to ongoing regional tensions.
Supporters of the bill say the United States has a responsibility to speak out when religious freedoms are at risk.
The proposed measures aim to send a clear message to foreign officials that participation in or tolerance of such actions will come with international consequences.
