Hungary Stands Up for Persecuted Christians, Says Tristan Azbej in Exclusive Interview - Faith & Freedom News

In an exclusive interview with the Dutch Reformatorisch Dagblad, Tristan Azbej, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program, laid bare Hungary’s unwavering commitment to supporting persecuted Christians worldwide. “While more and more Christians are persecuted worldwide, many Western countries remain silent about this crisis,” Azbej asserted. “As a Christian country, Hungary cannot look away.”

Since taking the helm of the mission in 2018, Azbej’s department has made it a priority to deliver targeted humanitarian aid. “With our Hungary Helps Program, we have already supported more than two million Christians,” he noted, highlighting a key project in the Nineveh Plateau in Iraq. In that project, Hungary donated $2 million directly to the Chaldean Catholic Church to rebuild the Christian town of Tel Askuf—a community devastated by the Islamic State in 2014. The town’s rebirth, now renamed Tel Askuf Bint al-Majar (“Tel Askuf, the daughter of Hungary”), stands as a poignant testament to the nation’s commitment and hope that others will follow suit.

Addressing criticisms of its focus on Christians, Azbej explained, “Critics say our approach is too narrow, but when certain religious groups are being targeted for discrimination, targeted assistance is essential.” While Hungary’s program primarily aids Christians, it has also extended support to other persecuted minorities, including Yazidis in Iraq and Syria, and the Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar.

In the interview, Azbej also reflected on why Hungary’s government remains vocal on this issue. He pointed out that when the office was established in 2016, many Western governments either ignored or downplayed the persecution of Christians—a neglect possibly rooted in political correctness or guilt over a colonial past. “Our mission is not just humanitarian aid—it’s a political statement,” he said.

Sporting a badge featuring the Arabic letter “ن” (nun), a symbol used by the Islamic State to mark the homes of Christians, Azbej expressed his solidarity with oppressed believers in the Middle East. “I wear this badge to show my commitment and support for my oppressed brothers and sisters,” he added.

Despite being one of the few European countries to take such a stand, Hungary’s approach is beginning to inspire others. Azbej mentioned that both Italy and Austria have recently initiated programs specifically aimed at aiding persecuted Christian communities.

Looking forward, he emphasized that while Hungary primarily offers direct, tangible assistance due to its limited geopolitical influence, the country remains active in international alliances and organizations. “In these forums, we ensure that the voice of persecuted Christians is heard,” he explained.

In his heartfelt message, Tristan Azbej called on the international community to follow Hungary’s example, hoping that one day, countries like the Netherlands might also herald a similar initiative—a “Daughter of the Netherlands” dedicated to protecting religious freedom.