Animated Film Honors Faith of 21 Coptic Martyrs Executed by ISIS

CAIRO, Egypt — Ten years after the brutal execution of 21 Christians in Libya by ISIS, an animated short film has been released to commemorate their unwavering faith. The film, which features a style inspired by Coptic iconography, was created by over 70 artists from more than 20 countries.

The film depicts the harrowing kidnapping and torture of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and one Ghanaian in late 2014 and early 2015. Despite being given the opportunity to renounce their faith for their freedom, all 21 men chose to remain steadfast in their Christian beliefs. On February 15, 2015, the terrorists beheaded them on camera as part of their extremist propaganda, deriding their faith as ‘cross delusion.’

In the aftermath of the executions, the Coptic Orthodox Church declared the victims martyrs, a designation later echoed by the Roman Catholic Church in 2023.

‘The blood of our Christian brothers is a testimony that cries out,’ Pope Francis stated the day following the tragic event. ‘Be they Catholic, Orthodox, Copts, Lutherans, it doesn’t matter: They’re Christian.’

Samir Sniout, the father of 24-year-old Girgis Melad Sniout, recalled how his son had been preparing for marriage in August 2015. ‘Girgis is with Jesus, and that is what matters now,’ Samir said. ‘I have forgiven the militants who killed my son. They did not know what they were doing. 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.’

Another father recounted the painful decision to watch the video of his 27-year-old son’s execution. ‘I didn’t want to, but I needed to,’ he explained. ‘I had to know if he stayed strong until the end. I prayed constantly, asking the Lord to give him strength. I heard his voice, calling on the name of Jesus just before the beheading. That was his voice. I recognized him. And I was relieved. He was faithful. Jesus was with him all the way. And now, he is with Jesus. What more could a father ask for?’

Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as Jesus in the TV series The Chosen and for his performance in Jesus Revolution, served as an executive producer for the animated film. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, he described the film as ‘stunning’ and ‘extraordinary.’

‘These guys had the opportunity to say, “No, no, I’m not Christian,” and then live, but none of them did it,’ Roumie said. Carlson followed up by asking if they were ‘just random migrant workers.’ Roumie responded, ‘Christian migrant workers, poor migrant workers, I think construction or farming or something. They wouldn’t deny their faith.’

Roumie also mentioned that he had the opportunity to screen the film with the families of the martyred men, noting that they were ‘full of joy’ knowing their loved ones were now with Jesus. While the film serves to honor the faithfulness of the Coptic martyrs, it also serves as a poignant reminder of Christ’s prediction that his followers may face suffering and death for their beliefs.

‘Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me,’ Jesus said in Matthew 24:9. ‘This is a reality for Christians in the Middle East,’ Roumie concluded. ‘Their lives are on the line for their beliefs.’