Speaking about religious persecution on the “Washington Watch” program, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) said religious minorities are frequently the target of the majority, such as in Nigeria where Christians are being killed by Muslims.
“Look at Armenia and what's being done to those folks by people from Azerbaijan,” Grothman pointed out. “It's just horrific."
Those two neighboring nations, which have been in conflict going back decades, have targeted civilians in their ongoing battles over disputed territory known as Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Christians are currently experiencing an ethnic cleansing by the Azerbaijan army.
Grothman also pointed to reports over the summer that Catholic priests in Nicaragua were beaten with approval from that country’s government.
"Years ago, Ronald Reagan tried to get a handle on the Communist mindset in Nicaragua," said Grothman. "They are now back."
Grothman also warned about India, a U.S. ally, where the Hindu majority targets Christians with the approval of the prime minister, Narendra Modi. A church in New Delhi was attacked in August by a violent mob, NBC News reported at the time.
At least some lawmakers are raising awareness of the ongoing problem. This week, a House subcommittee held a hearing called “Faith Under Fire: An Examination of Global Religious Persecution.”
Tony Perkins, the “Washington Watch” host, called it a good hearing.
"This is an issue I care very deeply about, having served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). "The Biden administration, instead of focusing on religious freedom, they're insistent on exporting LGBT agenda, and this damages U.S. global standing and creates instabilities that quite frankly they have a threatening effect on our national security."
