UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Rapper Nicki Minaj took up President Donald Trump’s allegations that Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, saying Tuesday at a United Nations occasion organized by the U.S. that she desires to shine a highlight on “the lethal menace.”
Trump has stated Christianity faces an “existential menace” in Nigeria and has instructed the Pentagon to start making ready for potential navy motion within the West African nation. Consultants and residents say some assaults goal Christians, however most emphasize that within the widespread violence that has lengthy plagued the West African nation, everyone seems to be a possible sufferer, no matter background or perception.
The Trinidadian-born Minaj thanked Trump for his management and for calling for pressing motion “to defend Christians in Nigeria, to fight extremism and to deliver a cease to violence in opposition to those that merely wish to train their pure proper to freedom of faith or perception.”
She spoke at a panel on the U.S. mission to the United Nations together with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and religion leaders. The occasion got here after she replied to Trump’s social media submit about Nigeria earlier this month, saying, “No group ought to ever be persecuted for working towards their faith.”
In a submit Sunday on X, Pope Leo XIV stated Christians are struggling discrimination and persecution in varied components of the world, pointing to Nigeria and different international locations like Bangladesh, Mozambique and Sudan.
Introducing Minaj, Waltz stated, “She steps on to this world stage not as a celeb however as a witness … to highlight Nigeria’s persecuted church” to her thousands and thousands of social media followers.
Saying she was “very nervous” to talk earlier than the panel, Minaj vowed to maintain standing up “within the face of injustice” for anybody wherever who’s being persecuted for his or her beliefs.
“Sadly, this drawback shouldn’t be solely a rising drawback in Nigeria, but additionally in so many different international locations all over the world,” she stated.
Minaj stated she needed to clarify that defending Christians in Nigeria wasn’t about taking sides or dividing folks. “It’s about uniting folks,” she stated, calling Nigeria “an exquisite nation with deep religion traditions” that she will be able to’t wait to see.
The rap star did make one reference to music in her remarks, saying it has taken her all over the world and she or he has seen how folks in every single place come alive once they hear a track “that touches their soul.”
“Spiritual freedom means all of us sing our religion no matter who we’re, the place we dwell and what we imagine,” Minaj stated.
