U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has launched a legislative effort in Washington to directly challenge the application of penal Sharia law and blasphemy statutes in several Nigerian states, introducing a bill aimed at bolstering protections for religious minorities.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Act,” seeks to compel a stronger response from the U.S. State Department regarding human rights and religious liberty concerns within Africa’s most populous nation.
The Senator, a prominent advocate for religious freedom, stated that the bill is necessary to address systemic failures to protect citizens. “We must use every tool at our disposal to hold Nigeria accountable and protect religious liberty in this country,” Senator Cruz was quoted as saying upon the bill’s introduction.
The Act specifically focuses on the legal systems in parts of Northern Nigeria where Sharia law is implemented, which has resulted in controversial blasphemy convictions, some carrying death sentences. International human rights organizations have frequently criticized these sentences as violations of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression.
If passed, the legislation would increase pressure on Nigeria’s federal government to reform or discontinue the use of laws perceived to violate international conventions. Furthermore, the bill demands closer monitoring and regular reporting by the U.S. government on the status of religious persecution and violence targeting Christians, Muslims, and other minority groups across Nigeria.
The move underscores the deepening international scrutiny on Nigeria’s handling of religious freedoms and is set to spark considerable debate both in Abuja and on Capitol Hill.
