LAGOS, Nigeria — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has been trying to rally fellow evangelical Christians and urge Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom with unfounded claims of “Christian mass murder,” which the government of the West African nation has vehemently rejected as false.

Cruz, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wants Nigeria to be designated a country of particular concern as one with “severe violations” of religious freedom. Designated countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. A designation could result in U.S. sanctions. The bill he introduced last month is awaiting action by the Senate and there is no certainty of it being approved. kAmrCFK’ 4=2:>D 92G6 366? 2>A=:7:65 3J D@>6 46=63C:E:6D 2?5 4@>>6?E2E@CD :? E96 &]$][ H:E9@F

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