(Photo: Christian Daily News, Morning Star News)
In a powerful address underscoring the importance of religious freedom, singer Nicki Minaj emphasized its role in fostering unity among humanity during a significant event focused on the plight of Christians in Nigeria.
Minaj took center stage as the keynote speaker at an event organized by the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City, entitled “Combating Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria.”
“Music has taken me around the globe,” Minaj noted. “I have seen how people, no matter their language, culture, or religion, come alive when they hear a song that touches their soul. Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe.”
Minaj expressed concern about the increasing threats to faith worldwide, pointing out, “In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed.”
She highlighted the dire conditions where “churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray.” Minaj stressed the urgency of the situation, noting its prevalence beyond Nigeria.
Addressing misconceptions, Minaj asserted that highlighting the challenges faced by Christians in Nigeria is not a political stance. “Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity. Nigeria is a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions and lots of beautiful barbz,” she stated.
She reinforced her commitment to justice, saying, “This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for my entire career, and I will continue to stand for that. For the rest of my life, I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their beliefs.”
Minaj passionately remarked, “When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break just a little bit, and the foundation of the United Nations, with its core mandate to ensure peace and security, should shake.”
Her participation in the U.N. event followed her recent response to President Donald Trump’s social media post categorizing Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Minaj shared this on her X account, expressing gratitude for the ability to worship freely in her own country.
Her post continued: “No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice. Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.”
Minaj’s advocacy drew attention from U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, who thanked her for her efforts and extended an invitation to visit the U.S. Embassy to the U.N. Minaj accepted the invitation in an X post, stating, “I’d be honored. Thank you, Ambassador.”
The event also featured insights from the Rev. Gabriel Makan of Nigeria, who detailed the severe challenges faced by Christians in his region. “We’ve been experiencing this for a quarter of a century and it has been [an] extremely difficult experience for Christians,” he shared.
Makan highlighted recent incidents, noting, “Just within the last three weeks, there have been multiple attacks in Plateau, in southern Kaduna, in Benue, with nine out of 15 attacks in Plateau state.” He stressed how these attacks threaten Christianity throughout West Africa.
“We have mass graves literally in every community,” he revealed, adding, “I’ve been there. I’ve been in the trenches. I’ve been to these places.”
Makan also pointed to Nigeria’s “porous” borders as exacerbating the issue: “We have all sorts of people [migrating] into the country unchecked. We don’t know where they’re coming from but from the experience in [the] country, we know that a lot of them come with [plans to do] harm.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
