He Defended Christians from ISIS, Now He's Behind Bars

Suleiman Khalil helped save his Christian community from ISIS. Now, he is the one behind bars. Despite the Syrian Transitional Government’s (STG) stated commitment to religious freedom, certain religious and ethnic minorities in Syria have faced arbitrary detention, discrimination, harassment, and violence. One prominent case is that of Suleiman Khalil, a Syriac Christian and former mayor of Sadad from 2012 to 2016.

In 2015, ISIS attempted to attack Sadad, one of the oldest Christian towns in the world. As mayor, Khalil successfully organized and led the defense of the town, preventing ISIS from entering Sadad and subjecting its residents to the mass killings and kidnappings inflicted on other communities.

On February 8, 2025, years after the territorial defeat of ISIS, Khalil was detained at his

home by STG security forces and subsequently transferred to Homs Central Prison. To this

day, he remains held without charge, denied access to legal counsel, afforded only limited

family visitation, and deprived of necessary medical care. Despite Khalil’s role as a civilian mayor who helped protect Sadad from ISIS, he has been denied due process, and his family has reason to believe he has been tortured. His continued detention, together with other cases involving religious and ethnic minorities, undermines confidence in the STG’s stated commitment to inclusivity and the rule of law.

If the STG truly wants to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of religion and the rule of law, Ambassador Thomas Barrack should urge Syrian authorities to secure Suleiman Khalil’s immediate release or, at a minimum, ensure that he is afforded full due process, access to legal counsel, necessary medical care, and transparent notice of any charges against him. Khalil once stood up to ISIS to protect Sadad. Now, Syria’s new government faces a test of whether it will uphold his fundamental rights.