On 8 July 2026, the European Parliament voted on three amendments tabled by Tomasz Froelich on behalf of the ESN Group to a joint resolution on the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre. The amendments toughen the language of the original text drafted by the PPE, S&D, ECR, Renew, and Verts/ALE groups. Amendment 1 changes the wording from "Christians are among the most persecuted religious groups globally" to "Christians are the most persecuted religious group globally". Amendment 2 replaces a general condemnation of violence against civilians with a specific condemnation of the "Kawel village massacre as part of a systematic pattern of Islamist violence and violent persecution of Christian communities", and adds a reference to a June 2026 communication by UN Special Rapporteurs stating that Christian women and girls in Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt are victims of targeted violence, abductions, forced marriages, and conversions to Islam. Amendment 3 adds a call for the Nigerian Government to "strengthen considerably its police and justice apparatus, making policing and prosecution robust and accountable, and tackling persistent impunity". The amendments sharpen the resolution by explicitly naming the violence as Islamist persecution, citing a specific UN communication, and demanding stronger police and justice reforms from Nigeria. The joint resolution, as amended, will now be put to a final vote in plenary.
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