U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to Introduce Legislation Targeting Nigerian Politicians Behind Sharia and Blasphemy Laws
By Passman Akpos
Washington D.C. — United States Senator Ted Cruz has announced plans to introduce a new piece of legislation aimed at sanctioning Nigerian politicians and state officials responsible for implementing or enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws in the country.
According to preliminary reports from Capitol Hill, the proposed bill will empower the U.S. government to impose travel bans, asset freezes, and other punitive measures against individuals found complicit in what Cruz described as “systematic religious persecution and human rights violations under the guise of law.”
Cruz, a senior Republican lawmaker and vocal advocate for religious freedom globally, said the move was necessary to “hold accountable those who criminalize faith expression and silence dissent through barbaric laws.”
> “It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, people in Nigeria can be sentenced to death, imprisoned, or violently attacked for alleged blasphemy,” Cruz stated during a press briefing. “The United States must not remain silent while fundamental freedoms are trampled in Africa’s largest democracy.”
The announcement follows mounting international concern over several cases in northern Nigeria, where citizens have been prosecuted or attacked under Sharia-based blasphemy provisions. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have repeatedly urged the Nigerian government to repeal such laws, calling them incompatible with global human rights standards.
If passed, the legislation could mark one of the strongest U.S. policy responses yet to Nigeria’s controversial religious statutes. Analysts believe it could further strain diplomatic ties between Washington and Abuja, especially as Nigeria continues to face scrutiny over its handling of human rights, press freedom, and religious tolerance.
So far, Nigerian authorities have not issued an official response to the proposed legislation. However, political observers predict a strong backlash from northern leaders who view Sharia law as a constitutional and cultural right within their states.
Senator Cruz is expected to formally present the bill to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations later this week.
