A Heartfelt Open Letter

The parents of Kayla Mueller, American humanitarian aid worker killed by ISIS, have penned an emotional open letter addressed to President Donald Trump. In this poignant communication, Carl and Marsha Mueller implore the President to seize the opportunity of his upcoming meeting with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to facilitate the return of their daughter’s remains. This plea comes a decade after she was murdered by the terror group.

A Critical Meeting Ahead

The letter was shared exclusively with Fox News Digital and is set against the backdrop of al-Sharaa’s first visit to Washington since he took office following the collapse of the Assad regime. The Muellers view this meeting as a “providential opportunity” to finally address one of the most devastating aspects of the Syrian conflict—the unresolved fate of their daughter.

“Ten long years have passed since our daughter’s body found its resting place, unmarked and unknown, somewhere in the crimson folds of Syria’s hills,” the letter articulates. “Kayla’s body has not been returned home to us; her story remains incomplete.”

The Tragic Story of Kayla Mueller

Kayla Mueller was a 26-year-old humanitarian aid worker from Arizona who dedicated her life to helping those in need. In 2013, while working near the Turkish border to aid Syrian refugees, she was kidnapped by ISIS. The infamous leader of the group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, reportedly enslaved and abused her before ultimately murdering her in 2015. Despite the family’s extensive efforts, her remains have never been recovered, leaving a painful void in their lives.

A Call for Justice and Resolution

Within their letter, the Muellers reflect on the “Operation Kayla Mueller” undertaken in 2019—an operation authorized by President Trump that led to the death of al-Baghdadi in northern Syria. During the 2020 Republican National Convention, the Muellers publicly thanked Trump for what they described as delivering “the iron fist of justice against unspeakable evil.”

With the shifting political landscape following the Assad regime’s removal, the Muellers express cautious optimism. They highlighted recent regional efforts, including advocacy from Arizona Representative Abe Hamadeh, who traveled to Damascus to push for Kayla’s return. “I was sworn into Congress with my hand resting on Kayla Mueller’s Bible,” Hamadeh stated. “I vowed to them that I would do everything I could to bring her home.”

New Leadership, New Hope

The Muellers view the incoming leadership in Syria as a new opportunity to resolve the ongoing plight of Americans still missing in that region. “The Assad regime has fallen, and with new leadership brings new opportunity to write the final chapter on Americans still missing in Syria,” they expressed.

They firmly believe that under President Trump’s guidance, the efforts to locate and return Kayla’s body could be reignited. “Through your leadership, we believe the torch Kayla was forced to drop has roared back to life,” they wrote, emphasizing not only their personal journey for closure but also the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian efforts in Syria.

An Inspiring Conclusion

As they concluded their letter, the Muellers made a passionate appeal to President Trump: “Your meeting is sure to inspire real hope across Syria’s war-torn streets. Bringing Kayla’s body home will do the same for every American heart, and together we will slam shut the era of terror’s reign in Syria and finally conclude Kayla’s story.”

This moment stands as a crucial chance to reaffirm America’s commitment to never abandon its own. “One more push could bring Kayla home,” the letter urges, encapsulating a family’s desperate plea for closure and justice in a time of profound political change.