Jun 22, 2020
USCIRF Denounces Recent ISWAP Attacks in Northeast Nigeria
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today denounced the recent attacks by Boko Haram faction Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) against innocent civilians in northern Nigeria.
“Recent ISWAP attacks on innocent civilians are reprehensible,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “Hundreds have died in recent weeks as ISWAP continues to inflict terror and target civilians based on their beliefs. We condemn this deplorable violence.”
Earlier this month, suspected ISWAP fighters killed 81 people when they attacked Foduma Kolomaiya village in northeast Nigeria. ISWAP then claimed responsibility for twin attacks that killed 20 soldiers and more than 40 civilians in Borno State on June 13.
“The Nigerian government needs to be doing more to protect the freedom of religion, particularly in the northeast region. Over two years after ISWAP abducted Leah Sharibu, it is unacceptable to see the group continue to inflict such devastation on the Nigerian people,” stated USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins, who advocates for Leah Sharibu as part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoner of Conscience Project.
In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, and that Boko Haram be designated an “entity of particular concern,” or EPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
USCIRF has also expressed concern regarding the state enforcement of Shari’a laws in northern Nigeria in last year’s report on Shari’ah Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion or belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/8/2018
Date of Sentencing: December/19/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Cult
Niu Xiaohong
Extra Bio Info:
Niu Xiaohong is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On October 8, 2018, officers from the Xiangcheng County Public Security Bureau detained Niu reportedly in relation to her religious belief and attending of religious meetings.
On December 19, 2019, the Weidu District People’s Court of Xuchang city sentenced Niu to six years in prison and fined her 8,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
Gender: Female
Current Location: Shanxi Women's Prison
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Han
Religion or Belief: Christian – Church of Almighty God
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September/17/2017
Date of Sentencing: June/25/2018
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Cult
Liu Jifang
Extra Bio Info:
Liu Jifang was imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On September 17, 2017, officers from the Lishi District Public Security Bureau of Luliang city detained Liu reportedly in relation to her religious belief and photocopying of religious materials.
On June 25, 2018, the Lishi District People’s Court of Luliang city sentenced Liu to five years in prison and fined her 10,000 yuan for "organizing or using a cult to undermine implementation of the law" (Art. 300 CCL).
Liu was sent to Shanxi Women's Prison to serve her sentence.
Liu's sentence should have ended in September 2022.
Publicly Available Information:
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China Prisoners Database Details: LIU Jifang Human Rights Without Frontiers
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"Cases of Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of CAG Christians by CCP" Association for the Defense of Human Rights and Religious Freedom