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2 Nigerian Religious Sects Back US Move to Designate Country for Religious
Freedom Violations

Timothy Obiezu

   ABUJA - Two religious sects in Nigeria have welcomed the U.S. placing
   Nigeria on a so-called blacklist for alleged religious freedom
   violations. Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and
   the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) say Nigerian authorities have
   unjustly targeted them for persecution. Nigerian authorities reject the
   allegations and describe the U.S. designation as an honest
   disagreement.

   This week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Nigeria and
   nine other nations as "countries of concern" for engaging in what he
   called "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious
   freedom."

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