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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.

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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

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...

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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

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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

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Nigerian Christians

The Continuing Threat of Radical Islamic Terrorism

Mike Pompeo, Senior Counsel for Global Affairs

May 1st, 2025

This past weekend, the world barely noticed as Boko Haram militants stormed a church in northeastern Nigeria, killing 22 Christian worshippers gathered for Sunday service on April 26th. The victims included women and children, slaughtered simply for practicing their faith. This brutal attack over the weekend is just one of many over the years that have cost the lives of many across Nigeria’s predominantly Christian regions.

While global headlines fixate on Russian aggression in Ukraine, Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a persistent and deadly threat continues to metastasize across multiple continents: radical Islamic terrorism. The relative media silence on these attacks doesn’t make them any less destructive or significant to American interests and values.

When I was Secretary of State, I saw firsthand how terrorist organizations worked hard to expand their influence. From Africa to Southeast Asia, groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and their various affiliates continue to wage war against religious minorities and Western values and interests.

Make no mistake: While the geographic caliphate of ISIS has been destroyed, its ideology lives on. These groups have developed sophisticated recruitment strategies that use social media to radicalize predominantly young men around the world, including inside the United States.

The threat to America isn’t merely theoretical. These organizations want to attack our homeland, threaten our allies, and undermine our way of life. Their hatred for America isn’t based on any specific policy grievance that can be negotiated away. Instead, it is simply a rejection of our values and our very existence as a free society.

During my tenure in the Trump Administration, we recognized this reality and took decisive action. We eliminated ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. We strengthened counterterrorism partnerships across the Middle East and Africa. We applied maximum pressure on state sponsors of terrorism like Iran. And crucially, we refused to pretend that radical Islamic terrorism could be defeated without naming it precisely for what it is.

As U.S. foreign policy continues to evolve and adapt to emerging threats, we must remain vigilant against the persistent dangers posed by terrorist organizations. Extremist groups can quickly fill power vacuums in unstable regions, as we’ve witnessed repeatedly throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Strong international partnerships and a clear-eyed approach to confronting terrorism remain essential.

America’s work overseas to counter these terrorists isn’t just about improving the lives of friends and allies around the world. When America retreats from confronting terrorism abroad, we inevitably face greater threats at home. Fighting terrorism overseas ensures it doesn’t have a chance to attack us here in America.

To counter Islamic violent extremism, we need to take the following commonsense steps:

First, we have to be honest about the threat. Political correctness cannot dictate our security policies. Radical Islamic terrorism is driven by an extremist interpretation of Islam that seeks to impose its vision through violence. Most Muslims reject this interpretation, which is precisely why we must partner with them to defeat it.

Second, we must reinforce our intelligence capabilities and counterterrorism partnerships. American leadership remains essential to coordinating global efforts against terrorist networks.

Third, securing our borders. No counterterrorism strategy can succeed while we maintain what amounts to an open invitation for potential terrorists to enter our country.

Fourth, confronting state sponsors of terrorism, particularly Iran, with maximum pressure to hold them accountable for their actions.

Finally, promoting religious freedom worldwide. The brutal persecution of Christians, Jews, moderate Muslims, and other religious minorities by radical Islamic terrorists represents an assault on human dignity that we cannot ignore.

The Nigerian Christians massacred by Boko Haram deserve more than our fleeting attention. They deserve an America that leads with moral clarity and strategic purpose in confronting the ideology that murdered them. While we rightly focus on the challenges posed by great power competitors, we cannot afford to ignore the persistent threat of radical Islamic terrorism. American security and global stability depend on our vigilance against both.

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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 –

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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...

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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...

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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.