Natalie Khalil is asking the United States to intervene for her father, former Sadad mayor Suleiman Khalil, who advocates say has been detained without charges since February 2025.
The daughter of an imprisoned Syrian Christian leader has traveled to Washington to appeal for help securing her father’s release.
Natalie Khalil participated in a September 15 advocacy event organized by In Defense of Christians before meeting with lawmakers, congressional staff and religious-freedom advocates.
Her father, Suleiman Khalil, is a former mayor of Sadad, one of Syria’s historically Christian towns. Syrian security forces detained him at his home on February 8, 2025, according to his family and Christian advocacy organizations.
Those groups say Khalil has been held for more than 19 months without formal charges, access to legal counsel or adequate medical care. THRIVE! did not locate a public response from Syrian transitional authorities addressing the allegations or explaining the legal basis for his continued detention.
A Christian Leader Who Defended His Town
Khalil served as mayor of Sadad from 2012 to 2016, during some of the most violent years of Syria’s civil war.
In November 2015, the Islamic State advanced toward the town. Religious-freedom advocates credit Khalil with helping organize Sadad’s defense and protect thousands of residents.
Christian Solidarity International has described him as an independent Christian political figure rather than an official aligned with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Advocates believe Khalil may now be facing retaliation for his public prominence and role in defending the town. That explanation has not been confirmed by Syrian authorities, who have not publicly announced charges or a motive for his detention.
His imprisonment comes during an uncertain period for Syria’s ancient Christian communities following the fall of Assad’s government in December 2024 and the establishment of a transitional government.
Family Describes Harsh Prison Conditions
Natalie Khalil told reporters that she last saw her father during a brief prison visit in May 2025.
She said female relatives were required to cover their hair and bodies before entering and that crosses worn by family members were removed. The family was also reportedly prevented from bringing Khalil a Bible.
“We weren’t allowed to be Christians in that place,” Natalie told EWTN News.
She described the prison as overcrowded, dirty and humid, with inadequate food and no beds for many detainees. The family previously brought food to Khalil, but Natalie said officials later restricted that assistance.
Those descriptions come from Khalil’s family and have not been independently verified through access to the detention facility.
Communication has remained extremely limited. Natalie said her father has occasionally sent short notes concealed among clothing returned to the family.
Despite the uncertainty, she said knowing that her father remains alive has strengthened her faith and determination to continue advocating for him.
An Appeal to President Trump
Natalie wrote directly to President Trump asking him to examine her father’s case and pursue any lawful means available to help.
“I am simply a daughter asking for help to bring her father home,” she wrote.
In Defense of Christians and Christian Solidarity International previously joined former religious-freedom officials in writing to U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack.
The organizations said Barrack’s office acknowledged awareness and concern about the case, but advocates have not reported further action resulting in Khalil’s release.
They are now seeking additional congressional support and diplomatic engagement from the State Department and President Trump’s administration.
American officials cannot unilaterally order a foreign government to release a prisoner. They can raise individual cases through diplomacy, connect cooperation or sanctions relief to human-rights concerns and press for charges, legal counsel, medical care or release.
Why This Matters
Suleiman Khalil’s case is about one imprisoned father, but it also carries wider implications for Christians considering whether they have a future in Syria.
A transitional government seeking international acceptance should be prepared to explain why a person is detained, disclose any charges and permit access to legal representation.
Reporting must still distinguish documented facts from the claims of relatives and advocacy organizations. The absence of a publicly stated charge is deeply concerning, but it does not justify inventing a motive that Syrian authorities have not acknowledged.
The most immediate need is transparency: confirmation of Khalil’s condition, the legal basis for his detention and a fair process through which the allegations against him—if any—can be examined.
THRIVE! Perspective
Hebrews 13:3 instructs Christians to remember prisoners as though they were imprisoned with them. Psalm 82:3–4 calls God’s people to defend the weak and rescue those suffering oppression.
Remembering prisoners involves more than momentary concern. It can include prayer, truthful reporting, persistent advocacy and practical support for families enduring prolonged separation.
Civil government has a legitimate role in using lawful diplomacy to defend religious liberty and challenge arbitrary detention. The Church’s calling goes further: to stand with suffering believers, proclaim Christ and remind captives that they have not been forgotten by the body of Christ.
Christians should pray for Suleiman Khalil’s protection and release, for courage and comfort for his family, and for Syrian leaders to act with justice. They should also pray that President Trump and American officials receive wisdom about how to advocate effectively without making promises they cannot fulfill.
