Marlin Stutzman, Indiana U.S. House Representative from the 3rd District | https://stutzman.house.gov/
Marlin Stutzman, Indiana U.S. House Representative from the 3rd District | https://stutzman.house.gov/
Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) has introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill mirrors legislation recently introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the Senate.
The proposed legislation responds to reports that conditions for Christians in Nigeria have worsened significantly. In 2025 alone, over 7,000 Christians have reportedly been killed and another 7,800 abducted by jihadist groups. Since Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009, more than 125,000 Christians are said to have lost their lives, with approximately 100 churches being destroyed each month. Eyewitnesses and survivors attribute these attacks to religious motivations.
The bill aims to protect religious freedom in Nigeria through several measures:
- Imposing targeted sanctions on officials who enforce Sharia law or facilitate violence against Christians and other minorities.
- Designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
- Ensuring that Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa continue to be recognized as Entities of Particular Concern.
Blaze Media was the first outlet to report on this legislation.
"It is the responsibility of the United States to protect religious freedom worldwide,” said Rep. Stutzman. “Implementing Sharia law and condoning the murder of innocent people is barbaric. We must use the targeted tools we have at our disposal to combat religious violence in all its forms. I am proud to partner with Senator Cruz to introduce this important legislation, which will create real consequences for those responsible for violence and save the lives of thousands of Christians who are facing persecution."
Senator Cruz added, “Nigerian Christians are being targeted and executed for their faith by Islamist terrorist groups, and are being forced to submit to sharia law and blasphemy laws across Nigeria. It is long past time to impose real costs on the Nigerian officials who facilitate these activities, and my Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act uses new and existing tools to do exactly that. I urge my colleagues to advance this critical legislation expeditiously.”
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