US rapper Nicki Minaj on Tuesday visited the United Nations (UN) headquarters, saying Christians in Nigeria “are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed”.
Minaj was invited by Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, “for an in-depth discussion about what our administration is doing to protect Christians’ freedoms all over the world”.
She thanked US President Donald Trump for “prioritising this issue” and pushing for international action to “defend Christians in Nigeria, to combat extremism, and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief”.
The artiste lamented that Christian communities in parts of Nigeria are being forced to flee their homes, adding that no one should ever feel unsafe because of their beliefs.
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Minaj said she understands through travelling how deeply religion shapes people and cultures around the world, noting that faith is now “under attack in way too many places” like Nigeria.
“We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. That shouldn’t make one person feel less safe than anyone in any room,” she said.
“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly simply because of how they pray.
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“Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity.”
Minaj said attacks on any place of worship, whether church or mosque, should concern the entire world.
“When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break just a little bit,” she said.
She expressed hope that the discussion would inspire greater global resolve.
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“I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace,” she said.
