Remembering the Legacy of the 21
by Timothy Witmer, 2025 Spring Associate
Ten years ago from February, the world watched in horror as ISIS executed 21 Christian men on a Libyan beach- 20 Copts from Egypt and one Ghanaian who faithfully stood alongside them. This horrific act was broadcast to the world and seen by millions, who witnessed this evil with their own eyes. This tragic spectacle created solidarity not only in Egypt, but across the world, as these men bravely stood for what they believed in, not backing down in the face of death, and instead became martyrs globally recognized for their courage and faithfulness.
The Martyring of the 21
For those unfamiliar with the situation, the 20 Egyptians, ages ranging from early 20s to 40s, were in Libya looking for work to support their families back in their villages at home. A month before the executions, an ISIS-affiliated Libyan jihadist group sought out Christians from the migrant worker population and took them captive. The Ghanaian man, believed to have converted after witnessing their unwavering faith, soon joined the others.
After a month of refusing to bow to the demands of these jihadists, they were dressed in orange jumpsuits and marched along a beach. As they were positioned side-by-side, their captors began recording. Many of the men could be seen praying to themselves, saying "يا رب يسوع"”, or “Oh Lord Jesus”. After a declaration by the terrorists against perceived ‘Christian aggression’, they beheaded the martyrs, sending shockwaves across Egyptian media and beyond.
The Response of Others
Having spent much of my life in Cairo, I was able to witness firsthand how this tragedy impacted the community I was a part of. Having been in a Christian circle, the beheadings of the 21 sent shockwaves throughout the community. Even as a middle-schooler, thoughts of what I would do if I was in that position raced through my head. If I, under the threat of death, would be able to stand firm in my faith. Whether people from other countries or Egyptian Christians, this was a stark reminder of what our faith can lead to.
Foreign leaders from across the globe condemned the attack, standing with the Egyptian Coptic community. Within Egypt, communities of different faith-groups all rallied behind the grieving families. Al-Azhar, an influential Islamic theological institution in Cairo condemned the act as ‘barbaric’. Egypt declared seven days of national mourning to stand with the grieving families. Responding to the act, the Egyptian military launched retaliatory strikes against the perpetrators, with over 85% support from the public - not just Christian support, but as a country. This horrific event was not just seen as an attack against one, but an attack against all.
The Response of the Coptic Christians
Even during the time that I was in Egypt, multiple attacks against Christians transpired. However, despite the ever-present danger, these attacks did not deter the Christian community; instead, it empowered it. The Christian community in Egypt can be defined by resilience, and the aftermath of the beheadings of the 21 are an excellent example of this. The widows of the martyred men met frequently together and shared such a traumatic, yet powerful bond. A church leader said of these women, “Now, it’s as if they are no longer 10 different widows. They’re one widow. They are one group, one entity. That’s how close they have become.”
In my opinion, one of the most powerful aspects of this story is the choice of the families to forgive. They forgave those who so brutally took their loved ones away. They forgave what many deemed ‘unforgivable’. And yet, another common thread between these grieving families was forgiveness. The father of one of the men said this about forgiveness: “Why shouldn’t I forgive? The Lord forgives us every second, and He forgave His own persecutors. My son is a martyr for Jesus, and that is a blessing. I pray for those who killed him – that they may see the truth and follow the light.” This type of forgiveness is what people notice. In 2017, after a suicide bomber killed 47 Coptic Christians during a Palm Sunday service, the wife of one of those killed made a similar statement, publically forgiving the attackers. Amr Adeeb, a Muslim TV host, took notice and made the incredible statement, “Egyptian Christians are made of steel. Egyptian Christians for hundreds of years are bearing many atrocities and disasters. The Egyptian Christian deeply loves his country [and] bears everything for the sake of this country.” While this was from a different event, the forgiveness by the families of the 21 evoked a similar response amongst both Christians and Muslims alike. Despite being thrust into a nightmare, solidarity and the power of forgiveness shone through.
Despite this solidarity after the martyring of the 21, for Egypt’s Coptic Christians, persecution has been a painful reality both in the past and the present . From early-Roman rule to Islamic conquests, Coptic Christians have faced hardship since the beginning. Even in recent years, different regimes of the Egyptian government have created systems that have disadvantaged the Coptic community. Ranging from inaction during persecution to unequal legislation, Coptic Christians in Egypt continually face these things even today. Even with the response to this tragedy, the motivation of the strong response by the Egyptian government has come into question. While it may seem like they were fighting for the good of their people, some argue that this response was more motivated by geopolitics, showing power to these militant groups. Whatever the motivation, the fact of the matter is that the Egyptian government still has work to do when it comes to protecting the rights of the Coptic Christian community and should be held accountable to do so.
The martyring of the 21 and the powerful response of their families created a unifying solidarity not only in Egypt, but across the world. Solidarity born from tragedy is powerful, but why must it take tragedy to unite us? Looking at the news now, the world has never been more full of division and hate. Even in Egypt, Coptic Christians are still facing discrimination because of their belief. However, stories like this remind us why it’s important to stand with our brothers and sisters, no matter who they are or what they believe. And because of the bravery of the 21 and the powerful testimony of their families, a way to honor their legacy is to put our differences aside and love one another. Not just when it’s convenient, but through both the good and the bad. This is what the international religious freedom movement is all about. We honor their legacy by not just remembering, but ensuring that no one faces persecution alone. Faith should be lived out boldly and freely- not in fear, but in unwavering courage. This is the legacy of the 21.
To learn more about this event, “The 21” is a short film created to share the bravery of these martyrs. This film was created to bring light to this tragedy, as well as to provide closure to the families of the victims. In a statement provided by the producers of the film, “The production team was honored and humbled to share the film with the martyrs' families at a screening just for them in January. It was an incredibly moving and impactful experience to bring the film to the community where many of the martyrs grew up. Their families and community keep the faith in a vibrant and joyful manner, despite the tragedy of their loss.” If interested, the film is available to stream for free on their website, with screening kits available for groups, churches, and community screenings. There is a suggested donation of $20 for small groups and $100 for large, public-facing events. This film powerfully illustrates not only the brutality of the event, but the power of the testimony of the martyrs.
Sources
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“Egypt’s Response to the Beheading of Copts by IS in Libya - Coptic Solidarity.” Coptic Solidarity, 29 Mar. 2015, www.copticsolidarity.org/2015/03/29/egypt-s-response-to-the-beheading-of-copts-by-is-in-libya/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Ibrahim, Ishak. “Egypt Responds to the Beheading of Copts by IS in Libya.” The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy -, 28 Mar. 2015, timep.org/2015/03/28/egypt-responds-to-the-beheading-of-copts-by-is-in-libya/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
“Islamic State: Egyptian Christians Held in Libya “Killed.”” BBC News, 15 Feb. 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world-31481797.
“Libya Killings: Who Were the 21 Copts?” BBC News, 16 Feb. 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31490089.
Mbakwe, Tola . “TV Anchor Stunned after Egyptian Christian Says She Forgives Her Husband’s Killers.” Premierchristian.news, Premier Christian News, 28 Apr. 2017, premierchristian.news/en/news/article/tv-anchor-stunned-after-egyptian-christian-says-she-forgives-her-husband-s-killers. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Rebecca. ““My Son Is a Martyr for Jesus – I Pray for Those Who Killed Him”: 21 Copts Martyred in Libya Remembered 10 Years On.” Open Doors UK & Ireland, 2025, www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/coptic-martyrs-10-years/.
Sadler, Hailey . “In Pictures: A Decade after IS Beheadings, Coptic Widows Reflect on Sisterhood and Resilience.” Middle East Eye, 2015, www.middleeasteye.net/gallery/pictures-coptic-widows-reflect-decade-resilience-sisterhood. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
