Chris Smith Decries Nigeria's Christian Killings, Calls for Prosecutions

Concerns Over Religious Persecution in Nigeria

• 📌 Chris Smith highlights the killing of Christians in Nigeria by extremist terrorist groups during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.
• ⚠️ He criticizes the persistent culture of denial from Nigerian delegations regarding these atrocities, often reframing the issue or attributing it to unrelated causes.
• 💡 Smith emphasizes that a lack of prosecution and protection by the Nigerian government constitutes toleration, a criterion for designation under the law.

Calls for Accountability and Action

• ⚖️ Smith questions the lack of prosecutorial discretion in Nigeria to deploy detectives and protection capabilities from the police to address these killings.
• 🗣️ He notes that even when presented with evidence, Nigerian officials often dismiss the motivations of groups like Boko Haram, failing to acknowledge them as radical Islamist organizations.
• 📢 The congressman references Amnesty International's petitions to the ICC, questioning the delay in justice for atrocity crimes in Nigeria.

Legal Frameworks and International Pressure

• 📜 Smith references his authorship of laws on religious freedom, including the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.
• 🎯 He explains that the CPC designation (Countries of Particular Concern) is intended to incentivize and compel action against religious persecution and trafficking.
• 🤝 The State Department is working with the Nigerian government on an action plan and task force to address these issues, aiming to use all available tools to focus attention.

Broader Context of Genocide and Denial

• 🌍 Smith draws parallels to other instances of denial and reframing, such as the Armenian Genocide and atrocities in Darfur, where the term genocide was initially avoided.
• 🚫 He points out that the previous administration designated Nigeria as a CPC in 2020, but it was removed in subsequent years, suggesting a wavering commitment.
• 🇺🇸 Smith encourages the State Department to fill vacant positions in the U.S. embassy in Nigeria, particularly those related to individual rights and religious freedom reports.