Martyrdom and the Resilience of ‘The 21’

On February 10, Coptic Orphans commemorated the 11th anniversary of the 21 Coptic Christian martyrs of Libya. A short animated film, The 21 , was screened before an audience of religious freedom advocates and congressional staffers on Capitol Hill. The 21 captures the resilience of the 21 martyrs Christian faith through animation styles inspired by Coptic iconography. It is a moving tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made by these men who refused to recant their faith in the face of torture and death. The screening was followed by a presentation of the on-the-ground work of Coptic Orphans in promoting interfaith dialogue and improving education outcomes in Egypt.

This milestone prompts a broader reflection on the past decade of extremist Islamist terrorism. Although the threat of ISIS has been greatly diminished since the 21 martyrs, Christians in the Middle East are even more vulnerable than they were 11 years ago. Across the Levant, Christians find themselves caught in the middle of larger confrontations and marginalized as victims of lawfare in countries across the region. Christians are widely relegated to second class citizenship in the best of circumstances. If a serious course correction is not made, Christianity will largely disappear from the region within a few decades as the appeal of emigration grows stronger with every injustice and persecution. In Defense of Christians is committed to reversing the trend by advocating for policies that foster the presence of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.

William Roberts is a Government Relations Associate at In Defense of Christians, IRD ’s program advocating for the protection and preservation of Christianity in the Middle East.

Resources :

In Defense of Christians

Coptic Orphans

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