US Enforces Visa Restrictions Over Religious Freedom Violation In Nigeria

The United States government has begun enforcing a policy that allows the US State Department to restrict visas for individuals responsible for violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.

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This was disclosed by Mark Walker, the US Principal Adviser for Global Religious Freedom, who said the policy had already been implemented.

Naija News reports that Walker made the disclosure in a post on X on Friday.

According to Walker, individuals involved in religious persecution will face additional scrutiny and could be barred from entering the United States.

“We have already executed on this policy, and we will continue to subject perpetrators to additional scrutiny,” Walker said.

He added that the US government remains committed to preventing individuals accused of religious persecution from entering the country.

“If you engage in persecution, you are not welcome in America. The United States is safer when we keep those responsible for religious persecution from entering our homeland,” he said.

The visa restriction policy was announced in December by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio said the restrictions would target individuals who “knowingly direct, authorise, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom.”

According to him, the move formed part of the US government’s response to violence against Christians in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

The policy announcement followed a resolution introduced by Chris Smith, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa.

Smith had recommended visa bans and asset freezes on individuals and organisations accused of severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.

The resolution specifically named the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as entities allegedly linked to such violations.

Earlier in February, some US lawmakers also proposed sanctions against Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, accusing him of complicity in religious freedom violations.

However, Walker did not disclose the names of individuals or entities currently affected by the visa restrictions.