On 8 July 2026, the European Parliament debated amendments to a joint resolution on the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre. The amendments, tabled by the PfE Group (MEPs Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi, Mieke Andriese, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Jorge Martín Frías, Hermann Tertsch, António Tânger Corrêa), target Recitals C and E, and Paragraph 7 of the original text co-authored by PPE, S&D, ECR, Renew, and Verts/ALE. The PfE Group seeks to sharpen the resolution's language by explicitly labelling the violence as Islamist persecution with genocidal traits, elevating Christians to the most persecuted group, and directing EU dialogue to confront these specific threats.
The amendments propose three key changes. Amendment 4 adds to Recital C that the systematic targeting of Christian communities in Plateau State and Nigeria's Middle Belt constitutes "Islamist persecution" and "displays genocidal characteristics." Amendment 5 revises Recital E to state that "Christians are reported to be the most persecuted religious group globally" instead of "among the most persecuted," and replaces "undermines the protection" with "undermines the credibility of international efforts to protect" freedom of religion or belief. Amendment 6 expands Paragraph 7, calling on the EU Special Envoy to "address the Islamist persecution of Christians and risk of genocide in the dialogue with Nigeria," rather than merely paying attention to the deteriorating situation.
The amendments, if adopted, would strengthen the resolution's condemnation of violence against Christians in Nigeria and increase pressure on EU institutions to prioritize the issue in diplomatic engagements. The original joint resolution, co-authored by five political groups, already condemns the Kawel village massacre and calls for action, but the PfE Group argues that stronger language is needed to reflect the severity of the attacks. The amendments are expected to be voted on during the plenary session, with the outcome potentially influencing the EU's approach to Nigeria and religious freedom.
The debate highlights divisions within the Parliament over how to characterize the violence, with the PfE Group pushing for explicit references to Islamist persecution and genocide, while other groups may prefer more cautious wording. The resolution, once adopted, will serve as the Parliament's official position, though it is non-binding on EU foreign policy. The amendments, if passed, could also affect the EU's dialogue with Nigeria and its funding for religious freedom initiatives.