Ok

Search

|

Login

|

Register

Donate

>

Who We are

//

What's happening

//

Our Cases

The Be Heard Project is a voice for the persecuted Church. Through law, public policy, and grassroots action, we amplify your voice to demand that world governments respect the most basic human rights and human dignity of persecuted believers. Join with us today and Be Heard.

Our Mission

>

Featured Page

Confronting Religious Persecution at the IRF Summit

Feb. 10Stories That Demand Action:

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who are on the front lines of defending religious freedom. The Summit provides a rare forum to share firsthand experiences, expose ongoing...More

As Iran’s Christian Persecution Escalates, ACLJ Takes Urgent Action...

Feb. 04As Iran’s Christian Persecution...

Why Somalia Is One of the Most Dangerous Places for Christians

Feb. 02Marked for Death: Why Somalia Is...

The Fate of the Kurds Is Critical to Syria’s Future

Jan. 30The Fate of the Kurds Is Critical...

More

>

First Name

Last Name

Email

Sign Up for updates >

Active Cases

Save Christians From Murder in Congo

Save Christians From Murder in...

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has once again become the site of unspeakable violence , with Christian communities being targeted by terrorists and militant forces. On February 15, over 70 Christians – primarily women, children, and the elderly – were added to the list of victims when they were abducted...More

Sign Petition

>

Save Christian Pastor Raymond Koh

Save Christian Pastor Raymond Koh

Free the Israeli Hostages from Hamas

Free the Israeli Hostages from...

Save Ahsan Masih

Save Ahsan Masih

All Cases

>

Engage in our advocacy by signing petitions and support these men and women daily through prayer.

First Name

Last Name

Email

<

Nigerian Christians

ACLJ Files Critical Submission to the UN Demanding Action for Christians in Nigeria Facing “Horrific Genocidal Acts”

Jordan Sekulow

February 15th, 2021

Many times we have informed you about the devastating humanitarian crisis and an increasingly genocidal situation for Christians in Nigeria because of extremist Islamic groups like Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen. This week, we again filed a critical submission to the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through our European affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), detailing some of the more recent atrocities against Christians.

In our written submission, we reminded them:

[U]nder the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (‘Genocide Convention’), “[a]ny Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide”.

In light of the persistent and increasing violence against Christians in Nigeria, we stated:

It is increasingly clear that Nigeria cannot protect Christians within its borders from these horrific genocidal acts, and the ECLJ asks any one of the Contracting Parties to the Genocide Convention to call upon the U.N. to take the immediate action necessary to prevent further devastation and loss of life.

As we detail in our report:

According to a December 2020 NGO report, approximately 2,200 Nigerian Christians were “hacked to death in 2020 and 34,400 since 2009”. These Christians were killed by Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and other radical Islamic groups. The report indicated that no less than 1,300 Christians were killed by Fulani Herdsmen, and 500 killed at the hands of Boko Haram and its splinter groups.

These groups target Christians and churches, and in some cases even carry out their attacks during important Christian holidays.

In December 2020, “Islamic extremist terrorists who kidnapped 11 Christians in northeast Nigeria on Christmas Day [later] executed five of them, according to a video released . . .”. The original attack occurred in the early morning hours on 25 December, resulting in the death of six Christians and the kidnapping of eleven other Christians. According to news reports, area residents later reported that the Christians killed in a video dated 29 December “were among the 11 kidnapped”.

Furthermore, we again reiterated our call for the immediate release of Leah Sharibu, who is still being held captive by Boko Haram:

Leah Sharibu is a Christian teen who was kidnapped by Boko Haram in February 2018 along with 110 other girls. Five of those girls are dead and 104 were set free. Leah is the only one who remains in captivity because she refuses to deny her faith in Christ. Time is of the utmost importance for addressing Leah Sharibu’s case as she remains in serious danger and immediate action must be taken to free her before it’s too late.

The U.N. must work with Nigeria to put an end to the atrocities being carried out against Christians in order to prevent further loss of life. We reminded the U.N. that it is their duty to respond in these circumstances.

Again, the U.N. Charter calls for the removal of threats to peace, and the Genocide Convention calls on the U.N. to prevent acts of genocide, not merely respond to them. It is of utmost importance that meaningful action be taken immediately to put an end to the violence that Christians in Nigeria are facing. Repeatedly they cry out to their government and the international community for help, but no one responds.

We need to respond – the world needs to respond.

We are currently working on an oral intervention to be presented at the UNHRC later this month in an effort to further advance the plight of these vulnerable Christians. We will not stop advocating on their behalf. Join us as we continue to fight for the protection of persecuted Christians in Nigeria and around the world.

Be Heard

Sign the petition

527,383

Signatures

First Name

Last Name

Email

Zip

Sign

>

Receive the latest news, updates, and contribution opportunities from Be Heard Project

Christmas Day U.S. Strikes Mark a Turning Point in the Fight Against...

Jordan Sekulow  //

Dec 29, 2025

On Christmas Day, President Trump ordered U.S. military strikes against the Islamic State-linked terrorist camps in northwest Nigeria, targeting extremists responsible for mass killings and terror attacks –

Read More

>

Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo: The Man Facing Down Genocide in Nigeria

Keith Mauck  //

Dec 22, 2025

The video is stark – rows of dead bodies laid out on the ground; grief etched onto every mourner’s face. Then a pastor breaks the silence with words no minister should ever have to say : “I am tired of burying...

Read More

>

New Congressional Resolution Condemning the Slaughter of Christians...

Jordan Sekulow  //

Nov 07, 2025

After years of sounding the alarm here at the ACLJ , there is real momentum in Washington, D.C., to stop the murder of Christians in Nigeria. Just days ago, President Donald Trump issued a powerful Truth...

Read More

>

You can help save Nigerian Christians

Sign the Petition

^

Be heard when you share.

American Center for Law and Justice | Washington D.C. | Copyright © 2026, ACLJ | Privacy & Security Policy | Annual Report

Be Heard Project is a project of the American Center for Law and Justice. American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to engage legal, legislative and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education and litigation to ensure that those rights are protected under the law. The organization has participated in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal District Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Your gift is very much appreciated and fully deductible as a charitable contribution. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by writing to us at P.O. Box 90555, Washington, DC 20090-0555.