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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

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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

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Nigerian Christians

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 – many aimed directly at Christian communities. Conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, the strikes marked a decisive response to a crisis that has been ignored for far too long.

For the ACLJ, this moment underscores what we have warned for years: Christians in Nigeria are being systematically persecuted, slaughtered, and driven from their homes simply because of their faith.

The World’s Deadliest Place To Be a Christian

Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries on earth for Christians. Islamist terror groups – including Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and affiliated jihadist militias – have waged a brutal campaign of violence marked by church burnings, village massacres, kidnappings, and forced displacement.

Since 2009, tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered, with entire communities erased in overnight attacks. Thousands of churches have been destroyed, pastors targeted, and families forced to flee ancestral lands. This is not random violence. It is a sustained pattern of persecution directed at believers because of who they are and what they believe.

Take action with the ACLJ – sign the petition: Stop the Genocide of Christians in Nigeria.

The ACLJ’s Role in Forcing Accountability

For years, the ACLJ has documented these atrocities and pressed U.S. officials to confront the truth. When the Biden Administration removed Nigeria from the State Department’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list – despite mounting evidence of religious persecution – the ACLJ took action.

We have significantly expanded our advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., and at the United Nations. This year, we began weekly strategy meetings with conservative leaders in Washington to confront the growing evil of religious persecution and to intensify pressure on the Nigerian government and global leaders to act.

Those efforts culminated in a major summit co-sponsored by the ACLJ and CPAC, focused on exposing persecution in countries like Nigeria and advancing concrete policy solutions to defend religious freedom.

The summit brought together lawmakers, legal and policy experts, and leading advocates, headlined by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, to mobilize support and develop practical strategies to protect persecuted Christians and reaffirm religious liberty as a fundamental human right.

In addition, I met at the White House, where I urged the Trump Administration to restore Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Within days, the President acted, placing Nigeria back on the CPC list.

We look forward to continuing these efforts and making real, measurable gains for persecuted Christians around the world.

Why the Christmas Day Strikes Matter

The Christmas Day strikes represent a significant intervention – and a long-overdue one. President Trump described the targeted militants as groups that were “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” For the first time, U.S. military action in Nigeria was framed explicitly around the defense of persecuted believers.

While Nigeria’s security crisis is complex and affects many citizens, the reality remains undeniable: Christian communities have been disproportionately targeted, particularly through attacks on churches, ministry leaders, and Christian villages. Ignoring that fact only emboldens persecutors.

More Must Be Done

Military action alone will not end the genocide. That is why the ACLJ will continue to call for sustained pressure – including diplomatic accountability, targeted sanctions, and meaningful reform within Nigeria. Without consequences, extremists will regroup and the killing will continue.

Religious freedom is not optional. Defending the persecuted Church is about defending human dignity itself. We will continue to fight – in Washington, at the U.N., and around the world – until the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria ends.

Take action with us and add your name to our petition: Stop the Genocide of Christians in Nigeria.

527,385

Signatures

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...

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...

Mike Pompeo, Senior Counsel for Global Affairs  //

Nov 07, 2025

President Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over the systematic persecution of Christians is a welcome and much-needed step to protect religious freedom. The President...