Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
A coalition of U.S. Christian leaders has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging decisive action to free 23 Armenian Christian hostages and one Azerbaijani Christian convert held by Azerbaijani authorities. Among them is Ruben Vardanyan, who remains in extremely critical condition as his hunger strike extends into its 21st day, leaving his health rapidly deteriorating in Azerbaijani detention.
In their appeal, the signatories cite credible reports of torture and ongoing abuse, emphasizing their belief that Trump’s leadership is needed 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,” they wrote. “The small Armenian Christian enclave of 120,000 souls were under siege by neighboring Azerbaijan, 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.”
They further praised Trump’s previous support of Armenia and persecuted Christians. “Christian Armenians seek the absolute right of return to their homeland in Azerbaijan,” they wrote. “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.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
