US Report Demands Nigeria Scrap Sharia, Blasphemy Laws Over Christian Persecution Claims

Femi Ashekun/

A report presented to the White House by American lawmakers has sparked controversy after it demanded that Nigeria repeal Sharia and blasphemy laws, arguing that the legal provisions contribute to the persecution of Christians and wider religious tension in the country.

The report was submitted following months of investigation led by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore and other members of Congress, who met officials at the White House to outline what they described as concrete steps to address violence affecting Christian communities in Nigeria.

Among the key recommendations is a direct demand that Nigeria scrap Sharia-based criminal codes and blasphemy laws operating in parts of the country.

The report argues that such laws can fuel discrimination and deepen religious divisions if not addressed within broader security and governance reforms.

“Following today’s productive meeting at the White House, I want to thank President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and for his Administration’s commitment to protecting our brothers and sisters in Christ from persecution,” Moore said after presenting the report.

He said the document followed an extensive inquiry that included congressional hearings, consultations with experts, engagement with religious leaders, and meetings with internally displaced people during a bipartisan trip to Nigeria.

“I travelled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face and the instability the Nigerian government must combat,” Moore said.

“Through Congressional hearings, expert testimony, meeting with Internally Displaced People, hearing from religious leaders, and engaging with high-level Nigerian government officials, we have provided a clear picture of the threat environment in Nigeria and the horrific persecution Christians face.”

According to him, the report sets out steps aimed at increasing accountability and strengthening cooperation between the United States and Nigeria.

“This report outlines concrete steps to impose accountability measures, counter radical Islamic terrorism and lay out a plan to work in coordination and cooperation with the Nigerian government to bring security to all the people of Nigeria,” he said. “Our brothers and sisters in Christ have suffered in silence for too long. The world is now watching.”

Beyond the call to repeal Sharia and blasphemy laws, the report proposes a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Nigeria, sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals accused of religious persecution, and the withholding of certain U.S. funds pending action by Nigerian authorities to address violence against Christians.

The recommendations follow Washington’s decision in October 2025 to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom issues, a move that could influence future diplomatic and security relations between both countries.

However, Nigerian officials have previously rejected similar claims, insisting that insecurity in the country affects both Muslims and Christians and is largely driven by terrorism, banditry and criminal violence rather than state-sponsored persecution.

Nigeria operates a secular constitution, although several northern states implement Sharia law in criminal matters for Muslims.

Blasphemy provisions in some of those states have led to arrests and prosecutions that have drawn criticism from international human rights groups.

The recommendation that those laws be repealed is therefore expected to provoke strong reactions across Nigeria’s political and religious landscape, where questions of faith, law and sovereignty remain deeply sensitive.

Moore nevertheless said the intention of the report is to push for stronger cooperation between both countries in addressing violence and protecting vulnerable communities.

“I urge the Nigerian government to take the opportunity to deepen and strengthen its relationship with the United States,” he said. “Doing so is in the interest of both our great nations.”