Chidi Samuel | The United States on Friday named Nigeria on its Special Watch List (SWL).
Nigeria joins Cuba, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Sudan, on the list which is for governments that have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.
Going by the statement signed by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, Nigeria is apparently on the list based on Boko Haram activities in the north-east.
According to Pompeo, Boko Haram was designated as “Entities of Particular Concern.”
The statement read in part, “These designations underscore the United States’ commitment to protect those who seek to exercise their freedom of religion or belief.”
“We believe that everyone, everywhere, at all times, should have the right to live according to the dictates of their conscience.
“We will continue to challenge state and non-state entities that seek to infringe upon those fundamental rights and to ensure they are held to account for their actions.”
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