,,iv #aai? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #bbj ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,m>* #aa1 #bjbe,mr4 ,smi? ( ,new ,j]sey submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs ,,resolution ,express+ ! s5se ( ,congress reg>d+ ! ne$ to designate ,nig]ia a ,c\ntry ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n = engag+ 9 & tol]at+ sy/ematic1 ongo+1 & egregi\s violations ( religi\s fre$om1 & = o!r purposes4 ,:]eas ! ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7,public ,law #aje-bib7 m&ates ! designation ( ,c\ntries ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n 7,,cpc7 = nations engag$ 9 or tol]at+ sy/ematic1 ongo+1 & egregi\s violations ( religi\s fre$om2 ,:]eas1 ,nig]ia appe>s to ma9ta9 an op5 bord] policy t enables radicaliz$ ,fulani ,e?nic ,militants 7,,fem7 & ,,isis-l9k$ extremi/ gr\ps1 includ+ ,lakurawa1 to ent] ,nig]ia unimp$$ f ,mali1 ,nig]1 ,*ad1 & ,burk9a ,faso2 ,:]eas1 = ov] a decade1 ,islamic t]ror organizations h c>ri$ out mass murd]1 rape1 kidnapp+s1 & o!r atrocities t>get+ mo/ly ,nig]ian ,*ri/ians & non-,fulani mod]ate ,muslim populations1 result+ 9 mass displacem5t & de/ruction ( places ( wor%ip1 9 :at appe>s to be a conc]t$ ef=t = a ,fulani-controll$ empire model$ ^u ! caliphate 9 nor!rn ,nig]ia e/abli%$ by ,usman dan ,fodio1 9 ! late #ah? & e>ly #ai? c5tury2 ,:]eas1 prom95t ,*ri/ian & ,muslim lead]s h be5 kidnapp$ or assass9at$1 includ+ prie/s1 pa/ors1 & imams :o advocate = religi\s tol]ance2 ,:]eas1 activi/s speak+ out aga9/ p]secution h fac$ ?reats1 arre/s1 & h>assm5t f bo? extremi/ gr\ps & gov]nm5t au?orities2 ,:]eas1 nor!rn ,nig]ia has se5 ! de/ruction ( #8#8ov] #ah1jjj *ur*es s9ce #bjji'' 9 attacks by ,boko ,h>am militants1 ,fulani h]dsm51 & o!rs1 accord+ to a #bjbc ,vatican report1 & 9 #bjba1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate report$ five attacks on mosques by unid5tifi$ gunm51 b&its1 & ,boko ,h>am2 ,:]eas1 approximately #cd1jjj mod]ate non-,fulani ,muslims also di$ 9 attacks1 s9ce #bjji1 f extremi/ gr\ps = oppos+ radical ,islamic ideologies2 ,:]eas1 e?nic & religi\sly inspir$ viol5ce occurr+ 9 ,nig]ia is caus+ unspeakable suff]+ & ! displacem5t ( betwe5 #c4e to #e million int]nally displac$ p]sons 7,i,d,ps7 9 nor!a/]n ,nig]ia1 & #cdc1jjj regi/]$ ,nig]ian refugees 9 ! ,lake ,*ad region2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjbj1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate designat$ ,nig]ia a ,c\ntry ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n 7,,cpc7 pursuant to ! ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq472 ,:]eas1 9 #bjba1 #bjbb1 & #bjbc1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate omitt$ ,nig]ia f its ,,cpc li/ & 9 #bjbd did n release a ,,cpc li/ or its annual ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,report2 ,:]eas ^! conflicts are (t5 fram$ z res\rce-bas$ disputes betwe5 h]d]s & f>m]s1 b ! sy/ematic t>get+ ( ,*ri/ian communities & religi\s lead]s po9ts to an und]ly+ religi\s dim5sion1 comp\nd$ by e?nicity2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #bb1 #bjbd1 !n-,secret>y ( ,/ate ,antony ,bl9k5 te/ifi$ to ! ,h\se ,committee on ,appropriations t ! kill+s ( ,*ri/ian f>m]s 9 ,nig]ia #8#8has no?+ to d ) religion1'' a categorical /atem5t :i* is inconsi/5t ) readily disc]nable evid5ce2 ,:]eas multiple m$ia reports1 includ+ f ,,bbc1 ,,cnn1 & ,reut]s1 h highlight$ religi\s p]secution1 attacks on h\ses ( wor%ip1 & ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia has be5 unable or unwill+ to effectively inve/igate & prosecute p]petrators ( religi\sly motivat$ viol5ce1 lead+ to a culture ( impunity2 ,:]eas blasphemy laws h also be5 us$ to t>get religi\s m9orities & diss5t]s1 ) h>% p5alties1 includ+ dea? s5t5ces2 ,:]eas1 9 #ab nor!rn ,/ates1 ,%>ia law is implem5t$ alongside secul> law1 lead+ to discrim9ation aga9/ non-,muslims & ev5 ,muslims :o d n adh]e to /rict int]pretations ( ,islamic law2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate %\ld h a coh]5t policy t ackn[l$ges & addresses ! e?nic1 religi\s1 f9ancial1 security1 & political dim5sions ( ! /agg]+ levels ( viol5ce & int]nal displacem5t )9 ,nig]ia1 & t ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia mu/ call ^u significant =eign support to h\se & fe$ ^? displac$ by ! viol5ce2 ,:]eas ! ,u4,s4 ,secret>y ( ! ,treasury is responsible = track+ funds fl[+ into t]rori/ & organiz$ crim9al organizations :o pose a ?reat to ! national security ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,nig]ia are allies & trad+ p>tn]s ) important1 %>$ security int]e/s2 ,:]eas1 s9ce ,,fy#bjbj1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t has obligat$ m ?an #c4ec billion & disburs$ m ?an #b4bd billion 9 non-milit>y =eign assi/ance to1 or = use 91 ,nig]ia2 ,:]eas1 s9ce ,,fy#bjbj1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se has obligat$ 9 excess ( #hc1ejg1bec to provide milit>y & security assi/ance to ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates =eign policy t[>d ,nig]ia %\ld consid] ^! factors & ju/ify ! purposes =1 & am\nts (1 f9ancial assi/ance provid$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to & 9 ,nig]ia2 to id5tify & ju/ify ! outcomes ( t assi/ance2 & ,:]eas ! designation ( ,nig]ia z a ,,cpc w\ld enhance diplomatic ef=ts to enc\rage ! ,nig]ian gov]nm5t to take necess>y actions to protect religi\s m9orities & uphold fundam5tal human rights3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t x is ! ,s5se ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t-- 7#a7 ,! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %\ld designate ,nig]ia z a ,c\ntry ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n "u ! ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7#bb #f ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq471 :i* m&ates ! designation ( ,c\ntries ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n 7,,cpc7 = nations engag$ 9 or tol]at+ sy/ematic1 ongo+1 & egregi\s violations ( religi\s fre$om2 7#b7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,nig]ia mu/ take imm$iate & effective /eps to prev5t religi\s p]secution1 prosecute p]petrators ( viol5ce1 take action to c>e = ! millions ( int]nally displac$ p]sons1 & uphold con/itutional protections = religi\s fre$om2 7#c7 ,! ,/ate ,dep>tm5t %\ld increase ,u4,s4 diplomatic engagem5t ) ,nig]ian (ficials to address religi\s fre$om violations & develop /rategies = long-t]m peace & /ability2 7#d7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates %\ld impose t>get$ sanctions & o!r measures aga9/ individuals & entities responsible = sev]e violations ( religi\s fre$om 9 ,nig]ia2 & 7#e7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates is committ$ to promot+ religi\s fre$om & human rights z f\ndational pr9ciples ( ,u4,s4 =eign policy4