[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5808 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5808
To require the Secretary of State to designate the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, to impose certain
sanctions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 21, 2025
Mr. Stutzman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of State to designate the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, to impose certain
sanctions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Nigeria Religious Freedom
Accountability Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described
in Executive Order 13818 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the
property of persons involved in serious human rights abuse or
corruption) on the persons identified in the report required under
subsection (b).
(b) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report listing Nigerian persons who
are--
(A) Federal officials or state governors who have,
during the period specified in paragraph (2)--
(i) promoted, enacted, or maintained
Nigerian blasphemy laws, including through
public advocacy, legislative action, or
executive enforcement directives; or
(ii) tolerated violence by non-state actors
invoking religious justifications to commit
acts of violence, including persons designated
as--
(I) foreign terrorist organizations
pursuant to section 219(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1189(a)); or
(II) specially designated global
terrorists pursuant to Executive Order
13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to
blocking property and prohibiting
transactions with persons who commit,
threaten to commit, or support
terrorism); or
(B) judges, magistrates, prison officials, or other
judicial or law enforcement authorities who have,
during the period specified in paragraph (2), enforced
blasphemy laws, including through prosecution,
conviction, imprisonment, or other deprivation of
liberty of individuals pursuant to such laws.
(2) Period specified.--The period specified in this
paragraph is--
(A) with respect to the first report required by
paragraph (1), the period beginning 10 years before the
date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the
date on which the report is submitted; and
(B) with respect to each subsequent such report,
the period beginning on the date on which the previous
such report was submitted and ending the date on which
the new report is submitted.
(3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex, if appropriate.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATIONS AND AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT.
(a) In General.--In reports required under section 402(b)(1)(A) of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6442(b)(1)(A)) and concurrent reviews required under section 301(a) of
the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (22
U.S.C. 6442a(a)), the Secretary of State shall designate, for engaging
in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of
religious freedom--
(1) the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of
Particular Concern (CPC); and
(2) Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of
Particular Concern (EPC).
(b) Waiver Authority.--
(1) CPC.--The Secretary of State may waive the requirement
to impose a designation required under subsection (a)(1) if the
Secretary transmits to the appropriate congressional committees
a determination that--
(A) neither entity listed in subsection (a)(2) is
currently operating in Nigeria; and
(B) the Federal Government of Nigeria and all state
governments in Nigeria are not currently enforcing
blasphemy laws.
(2) EPC.--The Secretary of State may waive the requirement
to impose a designation required under subsection (a)(2) if the
Secretary transmits to the appropriate committees a
determination that the entity not being designated is not
currently operating.
(c) Technical Correction.--Section 605(a)(1) of the of
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6473a) is
amended by striking ``freedom religion'' and inserting ``religious
freedom''.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Boko haram.--The term ``Boko Haram'' means Jama'tu
Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad.
(3) ISIS-west africa.--The term ``ISIS-West Africa'' means
the Islamic State West Africa Province.
(4) Nigerian blasphemy laws.--The term ``Nigerian blasphemy
laws'' refers to provisions in Nigeria's criminal, penal, or
Shari'a codes that criminalize expression, behavior, or belief
perceived as insulting religion.
(5) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or
entity.
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