When President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations last week about religious persecution, he posed that freedom of religion is not a partisan talking point; it is a universal human right. While some may seek to decry the messenger, the message should unite us.
Every two hours, somewhere in the world, a Christian is murdered for their faith. While Americans debate politics, Christians are dying simply for following Jesus Christ. This isn’t about politics. It’s about people. Real people with names and faces who share the faith of many Americans yet wonder if the world has forgotten them.
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Open Doors, the organization behind the World Watch List and one of the most trusted resources for religious persecution worldwide, has documented a devastating reality. On average, 12 Christians are killed for their faith every day. That’s 4,476 innocent people murdered annually, simply for following Jesus Christ. Behind each statistic is a story: the shopkeeper whose livelihood turns to ash, the pastor executed for refusing to deny his faith, the young woman abducted and shamed, the families scattered by gunfire in the night.
The question isn’t whether we agree on politics. It’s whether we can unite around a simple conviction: No one should be murdered or silenced because of his or her faith. When churches are reduced to rubble worldwide, America cannot remain indifferent, and the U.N. must rise to the challenge.
Nowhere is the urgency greater than in Nigeria, which has become the epicenter of anti-Christian violence in sub-Saharan Africa. Islamist militants and criminal gangs terrorize communities with near impunity, burning villages overnight and leaving behind only grief-stricken widows and orphans. For years, survivors have pleaded for the world to pay attention and aid their plight, but those pleas have too often gone unheard.
The U.S. House and Senate can take immediate action. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has proposed legislation in the House, House Resolution 220, that can meaningfully support persecuted Christians. Just this month, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which aims to protect Christians and other religious minorities suffering persecution in Nigeria. Lawmakers of both political parties should support measures that hold perpetrators and complicit officials accountable, beginning with the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for its brutal violations of religious freedom. Both houses should also press for targeted sanctions against those who enable or tolerate violence.
But action is not only the responsibility of policymakers. Every American can play a vital part in making a difference. Call your representative and ask for support of measures that address the crisis in Nigeria and strengthen tools to protect vulnerable faith communities. Follow up with an email so that your request is recorded, and encourage your friends and networks to do the same.
Everyday citizens can also play an invaluable role on the international stage through support of Open Doors’ Arise Africa campaign, which is gathering signatures to present to the United Nations. This petition calls for a sustained global response to systemic religious persecution across the continent. Adding your name may seem small, but when combined with the voices of hundreds of thousands of others, it compels international institutions to confront the crisis instead of ignoring it.
WE ARE NOT OK, BUT THERE IS HOPE
The persecuted are watching. They want to know whether America’s ideals are only for ourselves or whether we still believe that freedom of religion belongs to every human being. I believe we do, and I believe we can demonstrate it by matching words with bold actions in Congress and at the United Nations.
At a time when America is deeply divided, this is a rare opportunity to prove that unity is possible. We can refuse the cheap comfort of outrage and embrace the harder work of solidarity. We can show the world that America’s promise still travels beyond its borders. Call, write, sign, give, and pray — not for party advantage, but for people who have lost almost everything.
Freedom of religion is not a privilege granted by governments; it is a dignity burning in every soul. By uniting around this issue, America can help tip the balance from fear to hope.
Ryan Brown serves as president and CEO of Open Doors US.