Washington, DC: November 9, 2016 - In Defense of Christians congratulates President Trump on winning the vote of the American people, and urges his administration to make the plight of religious minorities in the Middle East a foreign policy priority for the United States. Too often Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East have not only been a secondary concern in U.S. foreign policy considerations in the region, but they have often been altogether forgotten. Following a year of advocacy by IDC and other organization, ISIS slaughter of minorities was labeled as genocide by President Obama, the second time in history that the US Government has used the genocide designation. The Trump administration has a tremendous opportunity to extend American leadership at a crucial time to ensure the continued survival of the ancient ethnic and religious minorities of the Middle East. IDC Executive Director Philippe Nassif stated: “IDC urges President Trump to prioritize the protection of the ancient ethnic and religious minority communities of the Middle East, and a region in which these communities can coexist and thrive peacefully in their native lands. The Christian values of tolerance and coexistence, and the innovations that these communities have contributed to their societies for so many centuries are essential for a stable and secure Middle East, which is in the national security interests of the United States and the world.” IDC welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with the Trump administration to advance the preservation and protection of Christians in the Middle East.