Islamic State (ISIS) militants killed a 20-year-old Egyptian Christian in Libya. Advocacy groups say he refused to deny Jesus Christ and convert to Islam. Milad Malak was a deacon at a Coptic church in his home village in Egypt. The Christian Post reported the story, citing persecution watchdogs Open Doors and International Christian Concern.
What happened
Malak was the only Christian among a group of Egyptian workers held by the militants. According to Open Doors, the captors tortured him for several days and threatened to kill him unless he gave up his faith. International Christian Concern, a U.S.-based watchdog, quotes Malak telling his captors: "Even if you cut me into pieces, I would never renounce my faith."
Malak had left Egypt on September 2 with two Muslim friends from his village. They hoped to find work in Libya after Egypt's economy weakened. ISIS fighters seized the three men in the Libyan city of Zliten on October 4. The two friends were later freed after their families paid $4,700. They are now receiving medical care in a hospital in Egypt.
The freed friends told Malak's family about his death. The family asked the Egyptian government to press for the return of his body. It was handed over several weeks later. Relatives and other Christians gathered on October 28 to mourn him, The Christian Post reported.
Context
Open Doors ranks Libya ninth on its World Watch List of the most dangerous countries for Christians. Both Open Doors and International Christian Concern link Malak's death to a 2015 event. In that year, ISIS killed 20 Coptic Christians and a Ghanaian man on a beach in Libya. Open Doors says the militants beheaded the men after they refused a final demand to renounce their faith. Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II declared the 21 men martyrs. Pope Francis added them to the Roman Catholic Church's list of martyrs in 2023.
What to watch
Open Doors and International Christian Concern describe Malak's death as a case of forced renunciation of faith. Malak's family has asked the Egyptian government for help in securing the return of his body. Reports do not say whether any arrests have been made in connection with the killing.
