WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the recent abduction of school girls in Nigeria, Independent Women released the following statement from Meaghan Mobbs, director of the Center for American Safety and Security, condemning the ongoing attacks against Christians in Nigeria, calling on global leaders to confront and stop extremist violence:

“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the ongoing attacks against Christian communities in Nigeria and the recent abduction of schoolgirls that once again lays bare the cruelty and persistence of this campaign of terror.

“What is unfolding in Nigeria is neither random nor episodic. It reflects a sustained pattern of Islamic extremist violence directed at civilian populations, including the deliberate targeting of women, children, and Christian faith communities whose only crime is the simple act of living openly in accordance with their beliefs. 

“The scope and scale of this crisis demand more than passing acknowledgment. 

“Thousands have been killed. Hundreds more have been abducted. This is a humanitarian emergency, a profound violation of religious freedom, and a stark reminder that violence left unchecked rarely remains contained.

“For women and girls, the danger is particularly severe, because they are targeted not only for who they are but for what they represent. The abduction of schoolgirls is not simply a crime of opportunity. It is a calculated act designed to intimidate families, disrupt education, and erode the confidence of entire communities in their ability to protect their children and preserve their future.

“When a girl cannot attend school without fear, a society begins to lose something far more than security. It begins to lose hope.

“At the same time, many so-called political leaders have spoken with great passion about the potential harms associated with American efforts to challenge the violent theocracy in Iran and support the Iranian people in their pursuit of freedom. They have issued statements, convened press conferences, and warned of consequences with remarkable speed and moral certainty. Yet when Christian girls in Nigeria are kidnapped, when families are slaughtered, and when entire communities are terrorized by violent Islamic extremists, the silence from many of these same voices is striking.

“Will political and moral leaders speak with the same clarity on behalf of these children? Will we hear sustained condemnation from the United Nations, from leaders in Spain, France, and Germany, from the Vatican, or from the cultural institutions that so often claim to stand for human dignity and human rights?

“We cannot allow this violence to fade into the background of global attention simply because it has become familiar.

“The steady normalization of brutality is itself a moral failure, and history has shown that indifference is often the first step toward abandonment.

Civilized nations are ultimately judged by what they choose to defend, and few responsibilities are more fundamental than the protection of women and children from targeted violence.

“Independent Women will continue to speak plainly about these attacks and insist that the suffering of innocent people be neither minimized nor ignored. The victims deserve recognition, the perpetrators must be held accountable, and governments entrusted with the safety of their citizens must be pressed to meet that obligation with seriousness and resolve.

“The world should be paying attention to what is happening in Nigeria, not as a distant conflict but as a test of whether we still possess the moral clarity and political will to confront evil when it is persistent, visible, and devastating.”

Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security works to advance policies that strengthen U.S. national security, support allies, and promote stability in regions facing conflict and extremism. Through research, advocacy and storytelling, the Center for American Safety and Security highlights the real-world impact of global security challenges and the importance of principled leadership abroad. 

READ MORE FROM CENTER FOR AMERICAN SAFETY AND SECURITY ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

To learn more about Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security, visit https://www.independentwomen.com/cass/. 

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