U.S. President Donald Trump is developing a sanctions plan to pressure the Nigerian government over ongoing Christian persecution, according to Representative Chris Smith, R-New Jersey. Smith described Nigeria as “ground zero,” and the “focal point of the most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world today.”
Smith, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, discussed the plan during his speech at “The Emergency Summit on Crimes Against Christians,” held on December 9 and organized by For the Martyrs, a nonprofit supporting persecuted Christians. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Representative Marlin Stutzman, R-Indiana, also addressed attendees.
The New Jersey congressman commended Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), stating: “Religious freedom will now be at the forefront of the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship.” Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), countries designated as CPCs may face measures ranging from diplomatic actions to economic sanctions. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
During his remarks at the summit, Senator Hawley said that Nigeria “has recently drawn global attention and has drawn the attention of our own president.” He added: “I applaud President Trump for standing up for persecuted Christians. I applaud the president for putting Nigeria back on the watch list where it belongs.” Quoting from Revelation, Hawley praised persecuted Christians globally: “They love not their lives, even unto death.”
“We see here in the Lord’s own word, his testament to the power of the persecuted church,” Hawley continued. “That he says it is those who are persecuted, who are willing to lay down their lives for the Gospel…it is those believers whose blood bears witness to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Stutzman criticized Christian persecution in Nigeria and described Trump as “the strongest president on [religious freedom] since probably Ronald Reagan.” He stated: “We have a president who’s willing to call out those bad guys around the world. At the end of the day, I think this is why it’s so important for us as Americans, especially for us as Christians. We are the party of life. We believe life is a gift from God. And so therefore, we should protect it. And we should be asking those folks, What is the threat? What is the threat of Christians in Nigeria to the government, to the leaders in that nation? What is the threat of Christians there?”
Trump has tasked Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, with leading an investigation into religious persecution in Nigeria.
Smith also addressed religious persecution in China during his speech: “Chinese dictator Xi Jinping’s accelerated and brutal crackdown on believers in China must be exposed and stopped as well.” He referred to recent raids on home churches by Chinese security agents: “in Xi Jinping’s China, devotion that isn’t Communist Party-approved is treated as a political problem to be solved by police brutality.” Smith urged action using sanctions provided under IRFA.
Hawley echoed concerns about China’s treatment of Christians: he said authorities have conducted raids on many home churches under what he called a “totalitarian” regime.
Chris Smith currently serves New Jersey’s 4th district in Congress after succeeding Frank Thompson in 1981 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/268387/trump-to-create-sanctions-plan-for-nigeria-congressman-says . Born in Rahway in 1953 and now living in Manchester Township https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/268387/trump-to-create-sanctions-plan-for-nigeria-congressman-says , Smith earned his BS from The College of New Jersey in 1975.
