Coptic Orthodox Church marks Contemporary Martyrs’ Day in remembrance of ‘The 21’ killed by ISIS in Libya

On 15 February, the anniversary of the 2015 killing of 21 men by ISIS in Libya, the Coptic Orthodox Church worldwide commemorated its contemporary martyrs. The group, now known as “The 21,” was made up of 20 Coptic Orthodox Christians from Upper Egypt and their Ghanaian friend, Matthew. Contemporary Martyrs’ Day, the church’s source states, celebrates those who lived their Christian faith until their last breath and also raises awareness of, and advocates for, people who are persecuted solely for their faith or belief.

This year’s online event, held on 15 February 2023, included contributions from a range of speakers. They included His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Mr Robert Voss CBE CStJ; His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London; the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro; Fiona Bruce MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief; Mervyn Thomas CMG; His Grace Bishop Hovakim, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland; Nadine Maenza; and the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark. Dr Ewelina Ochab, Deputy Director of Refcemi, moderated the event.

Mr Voss said it was an honour to take part in Contemporary Martyrs’ Day, and he noted that this year’s theme was “Working together for those alone.” He linked the event to the themes His Majesty has identified for his Coronation Year, two of which are community and diversity. Mr Voss also spoke of his own family’s history of religious persecution, saying that many Jewish relatives were lost during the Nazi regime in Germany. He called on people to stand together and commit to tolerance and respect so that “the seeds of hatred cannot find root.”

Archbishop Angaelos said the commemoration was important for the church. He said the events of 2015 had been “one of great pain,” but that the church had chosen to use that pain “as a source of strength, and to speak for others,” rather than to foster anger, retaliation or vengeance (Romans 12:18). He named a number of communities he said continue to suffer, including Bahá’ís in Iran, the Rohingya in Myanmar, Yazidis in Iraq, Uyghurs in China, the Shabak in Afghanistan, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Christians in Pakistan, Nigeria, China and elsewhere.

Bishop Mounstephen, who authored the Independent Review of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Response to Christian Persecution, said the event should become a fixed part of the calendar. He said it should serve to keep the urgency of the issue in view daily, not only once a year. He told the gathering that Freedom of Religion or Belief violations had worsened around the world since the Review, and he said His Majesty’s Government was still working to implement its recommendations. He thanked Ms Bruce for her determination to see those recommendations carried out.

Ms Bruce, who chairs an International Alliance of 42 countries committed to promoting and protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief, said that for people in the United Kingdom the principle of opposing persecution was worth fighting for, even if they had not personally experienced it. She said colleagues from Central European countries, for whom persecution has been a lived reality, regard the issue as far more than a principle. She announced that the next Ministerial on Freedom of Religion or Belief would be held in the Czech Republic.

Mr Thomas, Chair of the UK FoRB Forum and Founder President of CSW, said it was important to mark the day every year. He described violations ranging from threats and harassment to physical violence and imprisonment, and said some people “pay the ultimate price for their faith.” He spoke of religious persecution in Nigeria and India, and said CSW would continue to challenge governments that fail to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief. He pledged that at the UN and other international forums, “wherever we can raise our voices on behalf of martyrs everywhere,” the organisation would do so.

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