This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is pushing for punishment for officials in one nation, Nigeria, for allowing, perhaps even facilitating, the persecution of Christians.
"Officials in Nigeria are ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists," he said on social media.
"Since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred, and over 18,000 churches and 2,000 Christian schools have been destroyed."
He warned the death and destruction "is the result of decisions made by specific people, in specific places, at specific times…"
He cited the 7,000 Christians "murdered by Boko Haram," an Islamic terror organization, just his year.
According to a report in the Washington Stand, Cruz wants those responsible to be held "accountable."
He said his proposed "Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act" would provide punishment, requiring the secretary of State of identify Nigerian officials who have "promoted, enacted, or maintained Nigerian blasphemy laws, including through public advocacy, legislative action, or executive enforcement directives" or "tolerated violence by non-state actors invoking religious justifications to commit acts of violence."
The plan would make Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" for its anti-Christian agenda and under the International Religious Freedom Act deliver sanctions to not just the nation, but its officials individually.
"Nigeria's federal government and a dozen state governments enforce blasphemy laws in their criminal and Sharia codes, and they ignore or facilitate mob violence targeting Christians," Cruz said.
The nation's "atrocities," he said, "are directly linked to the policies of Nigerian federal and state officials. They are the result of decisions made by specific people, in specific places, at specific times — and it says a great deal about who is lashing out now that a light is being shone on these issues," he continued. "The United States knows who those people are, and I intend to hold them accountable."
Nigerian officials pushed back, claiming Cruz's charges were "absurd."
"No Nigerian officials will willingly, deliberately indulge in the act of siding with violent extremists to target any particular religion in this country. This is absolutely false," a government statement said.
It was a report from a non-governmental group called Intersociety that charged the state with more than 50,000 Christians being murdered by Islamists since 2009.
"In March, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins petitioned Congress to designate Nigeria as a CPC due to the ongoing violent persecution of Christians there," the Stand report said.
"In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, vicious attacks and bloodshed continue to surge, week after week, month after month. Christians are the primary targets of this terrorism, facing murders, rapes, kidnappings, and constant threats," Perkins said.
"The Nigerian government is not off the hook simply because non-state actors are the primary drivers of religious persecution. The government has a duty to protect all its citizens and their basic right to religious freedom, regardless of their faith," Perkins said.
