US changes Nigeria designation after Trump threat over alleged attacks on Christians [View all]

Source: ABC News

The State Department on Monday officially updated its designation for Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" for its alleged severe violations of religious freedom and persecution of Christians.

The CPC label is given by the U.S. government to nations "engaged in severe violations of religious freedom" under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The designation is largely symbolic, but U.S. law states that governments must "take targeted responses to violations of religious freedom."

The move comes after President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of not doing enough to protect Christians from violence. He also instructed the Pentagon on Saturday to prepare for possible action in Nigeria and threatened to cut U.S. aid.

The secretary of state is responsible for deeming a country a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC). Other countries designated as CPCs include Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.



Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-changes-nigeria-designation-trump-230654721.html