International advocates call for release of detained Syrian Christian leader

Religious freedom organizations are calling for the release of Suleiman Khalil, the former mayor of the Syrian town of Sadad, who has been held without charge since February 2025. Khalil was arrested following the rise of the government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, which took power after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime. Advocates suggest his detention is a retaliatory measure for his past efforts to defend his community against extremist groups.

A coalition of human rights groups, including Christian Solidarity International and In Defense of Christians, has petitioned the U.S. State Department to intervene. In an open letter addressed to U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack, signatories—including former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback—urged diplomatic pressure for Khalil’s release. Supporters argue that his ongoing detention, which has occurred without legal counsel or formal charges, violates Article 18 of Syria’s constitutional declaration.

Khalil is recognized for organizing the defense of Sadad against militant assaults in 2013 and 2015. Since the current government took power, reports indicate that Syrian Christians have faced a rise in abductions, extortion, and targeted arrests.