Calls for Trump to Intervene in Christian Hostage Crisis in Azerbaijan
Amid the tense geopolitical environment surrounding Azerbaijan and Armenia, a coalition of Christian leaders is urging former President Donald Trump to leverage his influence to secure the release of 24 Christians reportedly detained in Azerbaijan. This group of advocates emphasizes Trump’s campaign promises to support “persecuted Christians” and seeks immediate action.
A letter addressed to Trump, issued by the advocacy group Save Armenia on March 11, calls for intervention to help the 23 Christian Armenians and one Azeri Christian convert reportedly held by Azerbaijan. The signatories include prominent figures such as former Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, Christian musician Sean Feucht, and civil rights activist Alveda King.
In their appeal, the leaders commend Trump for his support of Armenia and its Christian heritage during his 2024 presidential campaign, acknowledging his efforts to communicate strong opposition to threats against Armenia’s security.
Highlighting past events, the letter states, “Almost two years ago, Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed more than 120,000 Christian Armenians out of their ancestral homes,” criticizing the Biden administration for its inaction. The detainees are reportedly being subjected to torture, with the International Committee of the Red Cross, previously the only organization allowed to monitor their condition, now forced to leave the country.
The ongoing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region with a predominantly ethnic Armenian Christian population, has placed Azerbaijan in the crosshairs of international religious freedom advocates. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom identified Azerbaijan as a major violator of religious freedom, noting an increase in violations following the territorial skirmishes.
International Christian Concern also included Azerbaijan in its “Persecutors of the Year” report, citing rhetoric from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has used derogatory language to describe Armenians.
The letter to Trump emphasizes, “You are the only one who can rescue these Christian hostages,” urging him to showcase the kind of leadership that allegedly led to the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, to once again signal that persecution of Christians cannot be tolerated.
Last year, the International Christian Concern called on the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan due to reports of torture against Christian Armenians. Save Armenia, an advocacy group, underscores Armenia’s historical significance as the first country to officially adopt Christianity, with a legacy marred by the Armenian genocide that claimed 1.5 million lives between 1915-16.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
