By Paul Vartan Sookiasian
A coalition of American Christian leaders has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging decisive action to free 24 Christian hostages—23 Armenian Christians and one Azerbaijani Christian convert—held by Azerbaijani authorities. Among them is Ruben Vardanyan, whose health is in jeopardy as his hunger strike extends into its 23rd day, leaving his health rapidly deteriorating in Azerbaijani detention.
After the one-day aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19-20, 2023, and the subsequent ethnic cleansing of the region’s entire Armenian population, Azerbaijan took its former military-political leadership hostage. Among them are three former presidents—Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan—Speaker of the National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan, former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, Deputy Commander of the Defense Army Davit Manukyan, and former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan. Baku officially acknowledges the existence of 23 Armenian hostages, some dating back to the 2020 war launched by Azerbaijan. The person referred to as a Christian convert by the Christian leaders is Azerbaijani activist Bahruz Samadov, a doctoral student at Charles University in Prague, whom Baku has arrested on charges of state treason.
In their appeal, published on Christiannewswire.com, the signatories cite credible reports of torture and ongoing abuse, emphasizing their belief that President Trump’s leadership is uniquely positioned to resolve this crisis, and that swift action is needed to save Christian lives.
“We believe you are the only one who can rescue these Christian hostages. Almost two years ago, Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed more than 120,000 Christian Armenians from their ancestral homes, while the Biden administration refused to take action. Since then, 23 Christian Armenian hostages and one Azeri Christian convert have been subjected to routine torture. The International Committee of the Red Cross—the only organization permitted to check on their well-being—was ordered to leave the country in recent days,” the letter reads.
They further praise President Trump’s previous support of Armenia and persecuted Christians, stating:
“Thank you for your support for Armenia and persecuted Christians during your campaign. Your statement was powerful and sent a clear message to those who would undermine Armenia’s security and their rich Christian heritage as the first country in the history of the world to embrace the gospel of Christ.”
The signatories referenced an October 23, 2024, Truth Social post in which Trump criticized then-Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris for inaction during the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenian Christians. He warned that Christians worldwide would be at risk under her leadership and pledged to protect persecuted Christians, end violence and ethnic cleansing, and restore peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan if elected.
“The significance of this letter is multifold. First is the tone which is used to describe the regime in Baku and the fact that they and their actions are compared to Hamas. Almost all of these signers are strong supporters of Israel in the United States,” said Eric Hacopian, CivilNet’s political commentator.
Secondly, according to Hacopian, is the significance of the signers themselves, among whom are prominent names from the religious right in the United States, which is President Trump’s primary base of support. “Two of the signers in fact, Sohrab Ahmari and Rod Dreher, are personal mentors of current Vice President JD Vance,” Hacopian said.
The full list of signatories to the letter includes:
- Dr. Alveda King, Chair, Center for the American Dream
- Hon. Michele Bachmann, Dean, Robertson School of Government
- Sohrab Ahmari, US Editor, UnHerd
- Rod Dreher, Journalist and Author
- Troy Miller, President & CEO, National Religious Broadcasters
- Ambassador Sam Brownback, Co-Chair, IRF Summit
- Sean Feucht, Missionary, Musician, Activist, Author, and Speaker
- William Wolfe, Executive Director, Center for Baptist Leadership
- Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO, The FAMiLY Leader
- Dede Laugesen, Executive Director, Save the Persecuted Christians
- Suzanne Bock Grishman, Executive Director, Mercury One, Inc. & The Nazarene Fund
- Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, Vice President, Middle East Media Research Institute
- Dr. Jim Garlow, CEO, Well Versed
- Rev. Rosemary Schindler Garlow, CEO, Schindler’s Ark
- Dr. David Curry, USCIRF Commissioner
- Nadine Maenza, President, IRF Secretariat
- Denise Bubeck, Board Member, Save Armenia
- Dr. Paul Murray, International VP, Global Peace Foundation
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