Nigeria, Dec. 1 -- The Nigerian government has rejected the United States' accusation that China is committing human rights abuses against Muslims and other minority groups, calling it unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Nigerian government declared its stance in a joint statement issued on 21 November, alongside 84 other countries.

The coalition of 85 countries, including Nigeria and China, rejected what they described as attempts to politicise human rights and interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states.

The statement, issued by China's permanent mission to the UN, condemned "double standards" and the use of human rights rhetoric as a pretext for interference...