At UN, Nicki Minaj Calls For Urgent Action To Protect Persecuted Christians In Nigeria
Nicki Minaj Urges UN to Address Rising Violence Against Nigerian Christians, Calls for Global Action to Protect Religious Freedom
Nicki Minaj delivered a powerful and emotional speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, urging world leaders to take swift and decisive action to protect Christians facing escalating violence in Nigeria.
The rapper expressed gratitude to Ambassador Waltz for the invitation, describing it as “an honor to stand on this stage and shine a spotlight on the deadly threat faced by thousands of Christians in Nigeria.”
She also thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump, saying, “I would like to thank President Trump for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage—calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria, to combat extremism, and to end violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion.”
Speaking “as a proud New Yorker,” Minaj celebrated the freedom to worship in the United States. “No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion, like I recently said on social media. We don’t need to share the same beliefs in order to respect each other,” she said.
She emphasized that differences in faith should never cost anyone their safety. “We’re far beyond expecting the person next to us to believe exactly what we believe. That’s simply unrealistic.”
Reflecting on her global music career, Minaj noted that music connects people across cultures and religions. “Religious freedom means we should all be able to express our faith—no matter who we are, where we live, or what we believe.”
Turning her attention to Nigeria, she warned that “Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed.” She described burned churches, shattered families, and communities living in constant fear “simply because of how they pray.”
Minaj stressed that the crisis in Nigeria mirrors a broader global trend of religious persecution. “This isn’t just a Nigerian problem—it’s happening in many countries around the world, and it demands urgent action.”
She insisted that advocating for vulnerable Christian communities should never be politicized. “Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides. It is about uniting humanity,” she said, calling Nigeria “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions—and many beautiful bars I can’t wait to explore.”
Minaj added that any attack on a place of worship should concern the entire world. “When a church, mosque, or temple is destroyed, every heart should break just a little. And the foundation of the United Nations should shake.”
She praised peacebuilders and faith leaders present at the event, expressing admiration for those “who saw violence and rising intolerance and chose not to look away.”
Minaj voiced hope that the conversations at the UN would spark renewed global cooperation to ensure that everyone can “believe, worship, and live in peace.”
Addressing her fanbase, she added with affection, “Barbs, I know you’re listening. I love you so much—you’ve been the ultimate light in my life and career.”
Reaffirming her long-term commitment to defending persecuted communities, Minaj concluded, “This isn’t about choosing sides. This is about standing up in the face of injustice. For the rest of my life, I will care if anyone, anywhere, is being persecuted for their beliefs.”