United States Senator Ted Cruz has pledged to introduce legislation aimed at addressing the enforcement of Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s redesignation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.
In a statement on his official website, the Texas Republican said the move aligns with his ongoing efforts to defend Christians reportedly facing religious persecution in Nigeria.
“I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination,” the statement read. “I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and this year introduced legislation that will lock in the designation made today.”
Cruz added that his proposed legislation would introduce additional sanctions and accountability measures against Nigerian officials who “implement or support blasphemy and Sharia laws.”
“Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behavior of Nigerian officials who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria,” he said.
The senator’s remarks followed Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform, declaring that Nigeria had been redesignated as a “Country of Particular Concern”, a label reserved for countries accused of severe violations of religious freedom. Trump claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” alleging that “thousands of Christians are being killed” by “radical Islamists.”
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He further stated that he had instructed members of Congress, including Representatives Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.), to investigate the alleged killings and report their findings. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria,” Trump said. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
Sharia law is currently enforced in 12 northern Nigerian states, primarily among Muslim populations. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised blasphemy laws in the region, highlighting cases where individuals accused of blasphemy were killed by mobs or sentenced to death by religious courts.
Notable incidents include the 2022 murder of Deborah Samuel, a female student in Sokoto; the 2024 killing of a butcher in Bauchi accused of desecrating the Quran; and the lynching of a cleric in Kano over alleged blasphemous remarks.
When the U.S. first designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” in 2020, the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the claim, insisting that the government protects the rights of all citizens regardless of religion. Officials described the designation as “misinformed” and influenced by “pressure groups with a narrow religious agenda.”
