Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025

This bill requires the Secretary of State to designate the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. It also mandates the designation of Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) in reports required under existing international religious freedom acts. The legislation directs the President to impose sanctions, as described in Executive Order 13818, on Nigerian persons identified in an annual report. This report will list federal or state officials who have promoted or enforced Nigerian blasphemy laws , or tolerated violence by non-state actors invoking religious justifications, including designated terrorist organizations. It also includes judges and law enforcement authorities who have enforced these blasphemy laws, with the first report covering a 10-year period. The Secretary of State may waive the CPC designation if neither Boko Haram nor ISIS-West Africa are operating in Nigeria and if the Nigerian government is not enforcing blasphemy laws. A waiver for EPC designation is also possible if the entity is not currently operating. The bill defines "Nigerian blasphemy laws" as provisions criminalizing expression, behavior, or belief perceived as insulting religion.