Washington, DC: In Defense of Christians (IDC), America’s leading advocacy organization for Christians in the Middle East, has sent a coalition letter to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq Thomas Barrack urging immediate U.S. engagement to secure the release of Suleiman Khalil, the former Christian mayor of Sadad, Syria. 

Mr. Khalil was detained by Syrian Transitional Government security forces on February 8, 2025.  Since then, he has reportedly been held without notification of charges, access to legal counsel, necessary medical care, family visitation, or right to free exercise of religion. His family has expressed grave concern regarding his treatment. 

Suleiman Khalil is widely recognized for organizing the successful defense of the historic Syriac Christian town of Sadad against ISIS during the terrorist group's attempted assault in 2015. His leadership helped prevent the mass killings and kidnappings that ISIS inflicted on Christians in nearby communities. 

The coalition argues that Mr. Khalil's continued detention raises serious concerns about Syria's commitment to religious freedom and equal citizenship and undermines confidence that the country's new government intends to uphold the rights of religious minorities despite its stated commitment to combating ISIS and building a more inclusive state. 

The letter calls upon Ambassador Barrack to press the Syrian government for Mr. Khalil's immediate release or, at a minimum, to ensure that he receives access to legal counsel, necessary medical care, transparent notice of any charges against him, and the due process protections required under law. The coalition emphasizes that resolving Mr. Khalil's case would demonstrate Syria's commitment to justice, reinforce its stated partnership in combating ISIS, and help build confidence among Syria's religious minorities. 

"The detention of Suleiman Khalil is not simply about an individual," said IDC Executive Director Richard Ghazal. "Mr. Khalil risked his life defending his community against ISIS. This moment stands as a test of whether Syria's new government intends to protect those who defended their communities against the Islamist terror group, and whether Christians can have confidence in their future in Syria.”  Ghazal continued, “We respectfully urge Ambassador Barrack to make Mr. Khalil's release a priority in the United States' engagement with the Syrian government." 

The coalition letter was signed by In Defense of Christians (IDC); Christians Solidarity International (CSI); Ambassador Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and Co-Chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit; Nadine Maenza, Chair of the Institute for Global Engagement and former Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF); Shai Fund; the American Syriac Union (ASU); and the Alawite Association of the United States (AAUS). 

In Defense of Christians (IDC) is a Washington-based advocacy organization dedicated to defending Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East through policy advocacy, legislative engagement, and public awareness initiatives.