The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, USCIRF’s updated report on abuse against Fulani Muslims in West and Central Africa has been criticized by a Christian advocacy group for failing to address the documented persecution of Christians in Nigeria at the hands of the same ethnic group.
The advocacy group argued that the report portrayed the Fulani as victims while disregarding the challenges faced by Christian communities in the country. The USCIRF report attributed the increase in violence against the Fulani to their perceived association with extremist groups, leading to their vulnerability to human rights abuses and violence.
However, the Christian advocacy group claims that the USCIRF report failed to acknowledge the ongoing attacks against Christians in Nigeria by the Fulani. The Fulani have been accused of launching deadly attacks on Christian communities in the country, with reports indicating that thousands have been killed in recent years.
In a statement, the Christian advocacy group expressed concern over the USCIRF report’s failure to address the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The group argued that the report’s focus on the abuse against Fulani Muslims was incomplete and painted a skewed picture of the situation in the country.
According to the report, the killing of five Fulani Muslim civilians by members of local Christian militias in north central Nigeria is mentioned as the trigger for an assault on a nearby Christian village, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals as a form of “retaliation”.
The report highlights how attacks on Fulani Muslim civilians have, unfortunately, led to religious violence against Christians, causing a significant impact on religious freedom rights for various faith groups. As a result, Christian communities in Nigeria face a severe threat of lethal attacks by vengeful attackers seeking revenge for their grievances against Fulani Muslim civilians.
The report reads: “In this way, attacks on Fulani Muslim civilians have also led to religious violence against Christians, impacting religious freedom rights for multiple faith communities. Christian communities across Nigeria are threatened by deadly attacks from vengeful assailants seeking retribution for grievances against Fulani Muslim civilians,” it reads.
The statement of the Christian advocacy group went on to call for greater attention to be paid to the situation in Nigeria, particularly the persecution of Christians. The advocacy group urged the USCIRF to revise its report and to acknowledge the ongoing attacks against Christian communities in the country.
The controversy over the USCIRF report highlights the ongoing concerns about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Despite efforts by advocacy groups and human rights organizations, many Christians continue to face discrimination, violence, and persecution because of their faith.