Coalition of American Christian Leaders Appeals for Release of 24 Hostages, Including Ruben Vardanyan, Amid Reports of Torture
A coalition of prominent American Christian leaders has issued an urgent appeal to President Donald Trump, calling for immediate action to secure the release of 24 Christian hostages—23 Armenian Christians and one Azerbaijani Christian convert—currently detained by Azerbaijani (Turkic State) authorities. The letter, sent today, highlights the dire circumstances of the captives, including Ruben Vardanyan, a notable detainee whose health is deteriorating rapidly after 21 days on a hunger strike. Reports of torture and abuse underscore the gravity of the situation, prompting the leaders to assert that President Trump’s decisive leadership is essential to saving these lives.
Organized by Save Armenia: A Judeo-Christian Alliance, the letter was released to the public via Christian Newswire on March 11, 2025. The signatories, a diverse group of influential figures from religious, political, and media spheres, expressed their confidence in Trump’s ability to address this crisis, citing his prior support for Armenia and persecuted Christians worldwide.
“We believe you are the only one who can rescue these Christian hostages,” the letter states. “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 leaders also noted a troubling development: the International Committee of the Red Cross, the sole entity allowed to monitor the hostages’ well-being, was recently expelled from Azerbaijan, leaving their conditions unchecked.
Trump’s Past Support Fuels Hope
The coalition praised Trump for his vocal stance during the 2024 presidential campaign, referencing a Truth Social post from October 23, 2024, where he condemned the persecution of Armenian Christians in Artsakh and pledged to protect Christians globally. The post read:
“Kamala Harris did NOTHING as 120,000 Armenian Christians were horrifically persecuted and forcibly displaced in Artsakh. Christians around the World will not be safe if Kamala Harris is President of the United States. When I am President, I will protect persecuted Christians, I will work to stop the violence and ethnic cleansing, and we will restore PEACE between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
The letter echoes this sentiment, contrasting Trump’s proactive approach with what the signatories describe as the Biden administration’s inaction. “You made it clear that unlike the Biden Administration that always refused to act to defend Christian rights around the world, you will stand for the rights of oppressed Christians in every corner of the globe,” they wrote.
A Call for Immediate Action
The leaders framed their request as both a moral and strategic imperative, drawing parallels to Trump’s influence in securing the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas in recent months. They also pointed to Azerbaijan’s ties with Hamas, noting the latter’s public support for the ethnic cleansing of Armenians as evidence of a broader pattern of aggression against Christians.
“Mr. President, we humbly ask that you utilize the authority of your office to stand for and with these 24 Christian lives, and once again send a message that murder and persecution of Christians around the world will no longer be tolerated,” the letter concludes. “We are one blood, one human race.”
Notable Signatories
The letter boasts an impressive roster of signatories, including:
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- Dr. Alveda King, Chair, Center for the American Dream
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- Hon. Michele Bachmann, Dean, Robertson School of Government
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- Sohrab Ahmari, US Editor, UnHerd
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- Rod Dreher, Journalist and Author
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- Troy Miller, President & CEO, National Religious Broadcasters
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- Ambassador Sam Brownback, Co-Chair, IRF Summit
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- Sean Feucht, Missionary, Musician, Activist, Author, and Speaker
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- Dede Laugesen, Executive Director, Save the Persecuted Christians
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- Dr. Jim Garlow, CEO, Well Versed
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- Nadine Maenza, President, IRF Secretariat
The full list and text of the letter are available here.
A Broader Context
The detention of these hostages follows Azerbaijan’s 2023 military campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), which displaced over 120,000 ethnic Armenians in what many have labeled an ethnic cleansing. Armenia, recognized as the first nation to adopt Christianity in 301 AD, has faced ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan, exacerbated by geopolitical rivalries and historical grievances. The Christian leaders’ appeal underscores the intersection of faith, human rights, and international diplomacy, placing hope in President Trump to leverage his influence for a resolution.
As of now, the White House has not issued an official response to the letter. However, the plea from these leaders signals a growing call for U.S. intervention in a crisis that continues to escalate.
