Over 80 Christian Leaders Urged Trump to Address Syria's Religious Persecution with Syrian President al-Sharaa
More than 80 Christian leaders signed a letter to President Donald Trump to address the plight of persecuted religious minorities, including Christians, Druze, and other religious minorities in Syria, as he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday.
"With the visit of Syria's new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, scheduled for Nov. 10, 2025, we urge you to address directly the massacre of Christians, Kurds, Druze, and Alawites in Syria, notably in the greater Suwayda area," said the Nov. 7 letter, written by Dede Laugesen, president of the advocacy group Save the Persecuted Christians.
Laugesen described Trump as “the only major world leader fighting for religious freedom” in light of his recent address to the Christian persecution taking place in Nigeria, The Christian Post reported.
"These religious minorities [in Syria] face ongoing violence, death, displacement, starvation, and water and medical deprivation, all while innocent women and children are held hostage by ISIS terrorists," the letter continued.
The letter also thanked the Trump administration's recent announcement that humanitarian aid is being sent to southern Syria while also urging that more needs to be done "to prevent impending catastrophe" as winter approaches.
The leaders also urged the president to secure Al-Sharaa's commitment to opening a secure humanitarian corridor from Hader to Suwayda in southern Syria.
"This corridor will enable safe and secure aid delivery and civilian evacuation, signaling the new government's commitment to minority rights and stability," they wrote.
The signatories of the letter included a number of Christian leaders, including Dr. Ben Carson and Eric Metaxas, both members of the White House Religious Liberty Commission; former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback; Family Research Council President Tony Perkins; Pastors Rob McCoy, Jack Hibbs, and Rob Pacienza; Faith & Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed, and more.
Monday’s meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa marks the first time a Syrian President has come to Washington, D.C., since Syria’s independence in 1946. Al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, the al-Nusra Front took office after former Syrian President Bashar was ousted by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied militant groups last December, resulting in him fleeing to Russia as his regime collapsed after 25 years.
According to the BBC, Syria will now be the 90th country to join the international coalition to combat the Islamic State group.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Trump said that "we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful.”
"And I think this leader can do it," he added regarding al-Sharaa. "I really do."
Additionally, the US will now allow Syria to reopen its embassy in Washington, as Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012.
As interim Syrian president, al-Sharaa has worked to soften his public image amid his effort to rebuild Syria, with foreign support, following 13 years of war.
"He has had a rough past," Trump said on Monday. "And I think, frankly, if you didn't have a rough past, you wouldn't have a chance."
Although he and Trump had not discussed his past, al-Sharaa said they focused on the "present and the future" of Syria, which was a "geopolitical" and economic partner of Washington.
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Scott Olson/Staff
Originally published November 11, 2025.
