Designations and amendments related to the International Religious Freedom Act

(a) In general In reports required under section 402(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)(A)) and concurrent reviews required under section 301(a) of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 6442a(a)), the Secretary of State shall designate, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom— (1) the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC); and (2) Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC). (b) Waiver authority (1) CPC The Secretary of State may waive the requirement to impose a designation required under subsection (a)(1) if the Secretary transmits to the appropriate congressional committees a determination that— (A) neither entity listed in subsection (a)(2) is currently operating in Nigeria; and (B) the Federal Government of Nigeria and all state governments in Nigeria are not currently enforcing blasphemy laws. (2) EPC The Secretary of State may waive the requirement to impose a designation required under subsection (a)(2) if the Secretary transmits to the appropriate committees a determination that the entity not being designated is not currently operating. (c) Technical correction Section 605(a)(1) of the of International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6473a) is amended by striking freedom religion and inserting religious freedom.