They are being put behind bars.
A coalition of Christian leaders is urging former President Donald Trump to intervene in securing the release of 24 Christians currently being held by the government of Azerbaijan. The group, which includes notable figures such as former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback and civil rights activist Alveda King, sent a letter asking Trump to take action. The detainees include 23 Christian Armenians and one Azeri Christian convert, and the letter was organized by the advocacy group Save Armenia. The leaders highlighted Trump’s previous support for persecuted Christians during his 2024 presidential campaign.
The letter expressed gratitude to Trump for his commitment to Armenia and Christian communities, citing his ability to influence international leaders. The Christian leaders argued that only a leader like Trump could resolve the situation, as Azerbaijan has been holding the hostages and subjecting them to torture. They also raised concerns that the International Committee of the Red Cross, previously allowed to monitor the prisoners, had been ordered to leave Azerbaijan, leaving the detainees vulnerable.
Azerbaijan has been at the center of international religious freedom concerns, particularly due to its conflict with the predominantly Christian nation of Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The region, once home to a large Armenian Christian population, experienced a mass exodus in 2023, with some accusing Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing. Religious freedom advocates have increasingly criticized Azerbaijan’s treatment of Armenians, and it was labeled as a serious violator of religious rights in 2023.
In their letter, the Christian leaders appealed directly to Trump, urging him to use his influence to secure the release of the hostages and demonstrate his commitment to protecting Christians worldwide. They compared the situation to other instances where hostages were freed out of fear of Trump’s administration, calling on him to take decisive action against the persecution of Christians in Azerbaijan.
The leaders also referenced Azerbaijan’s history of persecution against Armenians, including the mass killing of Armenian Christians during the genocide of 1915-16. They emphasized that Trump’s leadership could send a powerful message that the world will no longer tolerate the mistreatment and persecution of Christians.