American rapper Nicki Minaj has reacted to the recent decision by the United States to list Nigeria as a country of particular concern over alleged religious persecution.
The designation was made following claims of rising attacks on Christians and threats to freedom of worship in the country.
Minaj took to social media to share her thoughts on the development, noting that it reminded her of the value of religious freedom in the United States. She expressed sympathy for those affected by religious intolerance across the world.
While reacting to the announcement, the rapper wrote that the update made her reflect on the privilege of practising her faith without fear. “Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion,” she said.
Minaj stressed that differences in beliefs should not be a reason for division, adding, “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 and it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice.”
She also thanked the U.S. leadership for paying attention to the issue, stating, “Thank you to the President and his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.”
In a further post, Minaj emphasised that freedom of worship should apply to all religions, noting that extremism can be found in different faiths. She added, “There are extremists in every religion. Sending love to our Muslim Barbz. Every single one of us should be able to worship in peace.”