United States lawmaker, Mark Harris, has called on the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to impose sanctions on the Nigerian government over what he described as escalating violence against Christians.
In a letter dated Thursday, April 2, 2026, Harris expressed concern over “the escalating persecution of Christians in both Nigeria and Syria,” stating that the situation “demands immediate attention from the United States.”
“The escalating persecution of Christians in both Nigeria and Syria demands immediate attention from the United States. Attacks on the Church are not merely political disturbances or unfortunate byproducts of instability,” he wrote.
“They are assaults on human dignity, religious liberty, and the most basic God-given rights that every country has a duty to protect.”
Harris urged the U.S. State Department to ensure that both Nigeria and Syria take “decisive action to protect innocent Christians,” adding that Christian communities in the affected regions “continue to be terrorized, displaced, and killed for their faith.”
While commending previous U.S. actions, the congressman noted, “When Christians are targeted for worshiping, gathering, and living openly in their faith, the United States should speak with moral clarity and act with resolve—and under President Trump’s and your leadership, we have.”
He further praised efforts including “redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and taking decisive military action against the radical Islamic terrorist groups responsible for targeting vulnerable Christian communities.”
However, Harris said recent developments remain troubling.
“At the same time, the recent reports and videos coming out of both Syria and Nigeria are deeply disturbing,” he stated.
Referencing violence in Nigeria, he wrote, “In Nigeria, reports indicate that at least 30 people were killed in a Palm Sunday massacre in Plateau State, which is yet another horrifying reminder that Christians in parts of Nigeria continue to face deadly violence with far too little protection or accountability from the Nigerian government.”
Describing the incidents as part of a wider trend, Harris added, “The fact is, these are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader and growing pattern of anti-Christian violence plaguing both countries at the hands of Islamic militants, while both governments continue to either ignore or downplay the severity of these attacks, and Christians continue to pay the price.”
The lawmaker posed a series of questions to the State Department, seeking clarity on U.S. actions.
“What specific diplomatic steps has the Department taken in response to the recent attacks on Christians in Nigeria and Syria to ensure each government takes action against those responsible for committing these atrocities?” he asked.
He also queried, “What consequences is the Department prepared to impose, not just on those responsible, but on the governments of Nigeria and Syria if they fail to act decisively to protect Christians and other religious minorities within their borders?”
Additionally, Harris asked whether the Department is “considering the further use of sanctions, visa restrictions, aid conditions, or other diplomatic tools to ensure these governments take meaningful action to protect vulnerable Christian populations and uphold religious liberty.”
Highlighting the timing of the incidents, he noted, “This urgency is only heightened as Christians around the world observe Holy Week and remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
He added that “far too many Christians in places like Nigeria and Syria are instead forced to worship in fear, grieve loved ones lost to violence, or wonder whether they will be targeted next simply for living out and practicing their faith.”
Concluding, Harris stressed the need for stronger international action.
“For too long, persecuted Christians around the world have watched the international community issue statements while their churches are burned, their families are slaughtered, and their future in their ancestral homelands disappear. That is unacceptable,” he wrote.
“The United States must remain an unapologetic voice for those who are suffering for their faith and a forceful advocate for governments to uphold their responsibility to protect innocent life.”
