October 2017 Persecution Magazine

WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG 

October 2017 

PERSECU ION 

Egypt: 

On the 

Anvil of Islam 

Unpacking the history and reality of 

Egyptian persecution 

PERSECU ION.org 

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

Table of Contents 

In This Issue: 

OVERVIEW 

14 | Egypt’s Christians on the Anvil 

of Islam 

Egyptian Christians have endured relentless 

and violent persecution for 1,400 years. 

TIMELINE 

16 | Timeline of Egyptian History 

ICC examines important periods, themes, and 

events in Egypt’s history which have impacted 

Christian persecution within the country. 

INFOGRAPHIC 

22 | Egypt’s Systemic Persecution 

ICC inspects different forces and factors that 

drive Christian persecution in Egypt. 

FEATURE 

24 | Am I Next? 

Since December 2016, Coptic Christians have 

experienced an exponential increase in attacks. 

FEATURE 

28 |The Faces of Egyptian Martyrs 

Personal profiles for seven Christians killed 

in the many attacks last year. 

FEATURE 

30 | A Day in the Life 

A fictional narrative of everyday life for an 

Upper Egyptian Christian. 

FEATURE 

32 | ICC: Building and Bandaging 

ICC cultivates creative and holistic assistance 

to serve persecuted Egyptian Christians. 

14 

16 

Regular Features 

3 Letter from the President 

A few words from ICC’s president, 

Jeff King, on why Egypt has become a 

hotspot of Christian persecution. 

4 World News 

A snapshot of the persecution that 

impacts our brothers and sisters daily, in 

every corner of the world. 

8 Your Dollars at Work 

Learn how your gifts are providing 

comfort, relief, Bibles, education and 

vocational training to the persecuted. 

12 Volunteers 

Learn how members of ICC’s volunteer 

teams are making an impact in their 

communities for the persecuted. 

25 

31 

29 

32 

2 PERSECU ION.org 

OCTOBER 2017 


President’s Letter 

“War is a series of catastrophes that results in a victory.” 

Georges Clemenceau (1841 - 1929) 

“Between the anvil and the hammer,” is a British colloquialism that aptly 

describes the plight of the Egyptian Christian. 

For 1,400 years, they have suffered under Islam with no hope in sight. The revolution 

brought hope for a time, but The Muslim Brotherhood quickly filled the 

power vacuum of the popular, but largely leaderless, uprising. 

Luckily, when they grabbed power, they quickly crushed democracy which led to 

a second revolution where the power of the military was reinstated. 

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has made several groundbreaking pronouncements about the 

need to protect Christians in several speeches, but the political reality is that he has 

to be very careful not to offend The Brotherhood, the Salafists, and the average 

fundamentalist in the street. 

Jeff King, President 

International Christian Concern 

There is great frustration among the masses toward the military as they have monopoly of perhaps 40 percent of the 

economy, which leads to massive corruption and economic stagnation. One wrong step and he could end up like Mubarak. 

In the meantime, persecution against Christians has been escalating for a decade and is only getting worse, not better. 

The Word tells us that if “anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 

Peter 4:16). 

There is no shame in suffering greatly for the name of Jesus; in fact, rather, Jesus told us that we would be treated as He had 

been. The Word tells us that these believers suffer because Jesus himself called them out of the world, as seen in John 15:19. 

In the end, a servant is not greater than his master and the Church in Egypt remains between the anvil and the hammer. 

Therefore, we will do what we can to soften the blow and to build and bandage the Church there. 

Please join with us as we bandage and build His persecuted Church in Egypt and around the world. 

As always, your donations will be used efficiently, effectively, and ethically. 

I promise! 

Jeff King 

President 

International Christian Concern 

www.persecution.org 


INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN 

3

News 

3 

2 

1 

6 

4 

5 

Fanatics in Pakistan Threaten to Murder 

Christian Accused of Blasphemy if 

Released 

1 | PAKISTAN In early July, a Christian young man 

named Shahzad Masih was arrested under Pakistan’s 

infamous blasphemy laws. Shahzad works as a hospital 

sweeper and was accused by a fellow employee who 

is a member of the Tehreek e Tahafuz e Islam (TTIP). 

The coworker told a leader of the TTIP that Shahzad 

said something blasphemous during one of their conversations. 

At the time of writing, Shahzad is in police custody 

as the matter is being investigated. However, another 

leader of the TTIP has called for extrajudicial violence 

if Shahzad is released. He has been seen encouraging a 

crowd of supporters not to be afraid to take matters into 

their own hands and to kill Shahzad if he is released. 

The group also shared a photo of Masih and his accompanying 

First Information Report on social media. 

Perhaps most disturbing was the police station’s 

response to these legitimate death threats. They 

have said that while 

Shahzad is in their 

custody, he is safe. 

However, if he is 

declared not guilty, 

they said, “It is not 

our matter what happens 

to him after he is 

released.” In essence, 

they said, “Not my 

problem.” At present, 

the police have 

taken no clear action 

to address the threats 

against Shahzad 

despite widespread 

outcry from activists 

around the world. 

False blasphemy 

accusations are commonly 

used against 

Christians and other 

religious minorities 

in Pakistan to settle 

personal scores and 

spur religious violence. 

These accusations 

can carry serious 

consequences such 

as imprisonment and, 

in severe cases, the 

death penalty. Unless 

authorities take the 

necessary precautions 

to protect religious 

minorities from such 

unfounded accusations 

and the subsequent 

violence, Christians 

will continue to suffer 

from blasphemy laws 

in Pakistan. 

“She decided 

to go on hunger 

strikes...to protest 

the poor treatment.” 

Christian Arrested for Her Faith 

Denied Medical Aid in Prison 

2 | IRAN In 2013, an Iranian Christian woman 

named Maryam Naghash Zargaran was imprisoned 

for “propagating against the Islamic regime and 

collusion intended to harm national security.” Prior 

to her arrest, she was involved with Pastor Saeed 

Abedini’s ministry in an orphanage. She was also 

questioned by authorities a few years prior due to 

her involvement in the house church movement. 

Following her recent release from prison, Zargaran 

has spoken out against the inhumane treatment that 

she faced during her imprisonment. Furthermore, 

Zargaran’s family has claimed that she now faces 

depression as a result of the treatment that she 

endured over the past few years. 

Zargaran suffers from a heart condition called atrial 

septal defect, but did not receive adequate care to 

address this condition. Two months into her imprisonment, 

she experienced what was likely a heart 

attack. Although she was taken to a hospital, she was 

returned to the notorious Evin Prison shortly after and 

extra time was added to her sentence. 

Unfortunately, she reports that many of her other 

requests for medical care were denied. As a result, 

Zargaran decided to go on hunger strikes during her 

imprisonment to protest the poor treatment. Amnesty 

International has spoken out regarding this case, 

using Zargaran’s treatment as an example of the poor 

conditions in Iranian prisons. 




Coptic Christian Soldier Beaten to Death for His Faith 

3 | EGYPT A young Christian man, Joseph Reda Helmy, had just finished his military training and was transferred to a police unit when he 

was brutally murdered because of his faith. According to Helmy’s family, he was beaten to death by three officers after they found out that he 

was a Christian. 

The Egyptian army told the family that Helmy suffered from a fatal epileptic seizure which caused his death, but the evidence did not support 

this. A doctor examined Helmy’s body post-mortem and noted that he had severe bruising on his back, head, shoulders, neck, and genitals. Not 

only is this not indicative of an epileptic seizure, but the doctor went so far as to report that Helmy’s death did not appear natural. 

China Bans International Students from 

Holding Religious Activities on Campus 

4 | CHINA A new set of restrictions that were implemented in July 

will greatly affect the religious freedom of international university 

students in China. Not only do the regulations forbid students from 

openly practicing their faith on campus, but they also force students 

to take political theory courses that cover topics such as Chinese law 

and Chinese culture. These new restrictions are in direct violation of 

China’s constitution which states that “no public organization…may 

discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any 

religion.” Unfortunately, this is only one of many examples of the 

Chinese government’s crackdown on Christianity. 

Vietnam Sentences Christian Blogger to 10 Years 

in Prison 

5 | VIETNAM A Catholic blogger named Mary Magdelene Nguyen 

Ngoc Nhu Quynh, commonly referred to as “Mother Mushroom,” was 

recently sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Vietnamese court. The 

blogger was accused of propaganda against the communist government 

for openly speaking out against the government’s treatment of religious 

minorities and its poor human rights record. Many lawyers and human 

rights activists have denounced this sentence and its severity, with 

one calling it “heavy and inhumane.” Despite the harsh sentence, the 

blogger has stated that she will not stop advocating for human rights in 

Vietnam. 

Twenty Crosses in India Desecrated in Single Night 

6 | INDIA On July 10, more than 20 crosses were desecrated along with several 

other plaques and gravestones at a Christian cemetery in India’s Goa State. A 

similar attack took place in the same location five years ago. Unfortunately, this 

is the most recent in a string of multiple incidents of vandalism in the region. In 

response to this attack, the local government has called on the Central Bureau 

of Investigation to look further into these recent crimes and take greater action 

to apprehend the suspects. 

Christian communities in India and their religious sites have faced steadily 

increasing attacks and discrimination since the BJP rose to power in 2014. As 

attackers often operate freely without punishment, they view the government’s 

response as a form of tacit approval. As long as the government stays silent, 

attacks of this nature will only worsen. 



5

News 

2 

American Christian Missionary Held 

Captive in Mali 

1 | MALI This month, concerned Christians around the world 

are acknowledging the disappearance of Jeffery Woodke 

that took place one year ago. In October 2016, Woodke, 

who is a Christian missionary in Niger, was taken from his 

home by al Qaeda affiliates and taken across the border into 

Mali. Prior to his abduction, Woodke had served in Niger 

since 1992, assisting local tribes with food shortages. 

The affiliate group, Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen, 

released a video in July showing several Westerners who 

are being held hostage, encouraging negotiations for their 

release. However, Woodke was notably missing from the 

video. Many believe that the group is staying silent about 

Woodke until they determine their next move. While an 

official from the US State Department has commented that 

there is evidence to say that Woodke is alive, there is little 

more public knowledge beyond that. On the anniversary 

of his abduction and beyond, let us continue to pray for his 

release and that he and his family would hold fast to their 

faith during this trial. 

1 

7 

4 

5 

3 

President Trump Selects Gov. Brownback 

as New IRF Ambassador 

2 | USA On July 27, the White House announced that President 

Trump nominated Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as 

the next Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious 

Freedom. This position was created as part of the International 

Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The individual who fills 

this role serves as the leader of the Office of International 

Religious Freedom (IRF). This office plays a vital role 

in advocating for religious freedom as a key piece of US 

foreign policy. In addition to monitoring religious freedom 

violations around the world, the IRF office also recommends 

especially heinous violators of religious freedom as 

“Countries of Particular Concern.” 

Leading up to this nomination, Brownback has demonstrated 

his commitment to religious freedom through his service over 

the years. Prior to his governorship, Brownback worked actively 

on religious freedom issues as a member of the House of 

Representatives. He was also a key sponsor of the International 

Religious Freedom Act of 

1998 that led to the creation 

of this very position. 

If and when the nomination 

is approved by the 

Senate Foreign Relations 

Committee, Brownback 

would assume this position 

immediately. The 

filling of this position, 

especially with a strong 

supporter of religious freedom, 

sends a message to 

the international community 

that religious freedom 

remains a priority in US 

foreign policy. 

6 

Christian 

Woman 

Sexually 

Assaulted by 

Muslim Men in 

Bangladesh 

3 | BANGLADESH 

On June 18, a 

20-year-old tribal 

Christian woman 

was sexually assaulted 

by three Muslim 

men in Bangladesh. 

Thankfully, during 

the attack, she 

was able to grab the 

attention of other 

tribals who were 

able to rescue her. 

Unfortunately, the 

three men, ranging 

from ages 28 to 35, 

escaped and, at the 

time of writing, are 

still free. 

The woman’s family 

filed an official 

complaint, but is 

now facing pressure 

from local criminals 

to drop the complaint. 

By threatening 

the family, 

these criminals are 

re-victimizing this 

young woman after 

an already traumatic 

experience. 

Prior to this attack, 

the woman’s family 

was kicked off of 

its property by local 

Muslims seeking to 

take their property 

rights. 

Christian women 

in Bangladesh often 

find themselves vulnerable 

to this type 

of attack as they 

are viewed as easy 

targets due to their 

minority status. 




Sporadic Clashes Continue Despite Victory Declared in Mosul 

4 | IRAQ In mid-July, news spread around the world that Mosul had been liberated from ISIS, following an official announcement from Iraq’s 

prime minister. However, despite the declaration of victory, military forces in Iraq continue to face occasional attacks from the extremist group. 

While Mosul is certainly moving in the right direction, it will be a long road to recovery until ISIS is fully removed from the city and civilians 

can begin to rebuild. 

Pastor Shot and Killed in Drive-By 

Shooting in Northern India 

5 | INDIA On July 15, Pastor Sultan Masih was fatally 

shot in a drive-by shooting outside of his church in 

northern India. Reports indicate that Masih was using 

his cell phone when two masked men on a motorcycle 

shot him four times before speeding away. Masih was 

taken to a hospital where he died shortly after. 

Masih’s relatives reported that during the month 

leading up to the shooting, they noticed suspicious 

activity outside of the church, including men taking 

photos and recording videos of the church. Following 

the murder, local Christians organized a demonstration 

to protest the government’s inaction and call for justice 

for the perpetrators. 



Ministry 

Seeks Harsher 

Blasphemy Laws 

6 | INDONESIA The 

Ministry of Religious 

Affairs in Indonesia 

is in the process of 

adjusting its Religious 

Rights Protection Bill. 

These revisions would 

expand the legal definition 

of blasphemy, 

leading to more frequent 

and harsher 

sentences under this 

charge. If passed, this 

bill would threaten 

religious minorities 

throughout Indonesia, 

threatening them with 

prison terms of six 

months to five years 

if convicted. This new 

development is widely 

seen as a step backwards 

for religious 

freedom in Indonesia. 

Al-Shabaab Militants Kill Seven 

Christian Men in Eastern Kenya 

7 | KENYA Between July 5 and July 8, militants from 

al-Shabaab raided three villages in eastern Kenya. 

When the dust settled, seven Christian men were killed 

along with three police officers. Locals reported that 

the attackers went door to door, targeting Christians. 

One pastor noted that the attackers demanded that 

the residents show them their identification cards, 

and those whose cards identified them as Christians 

were killed. As a result, schools in the three villages 

were shut down and Christian families evacuated the 

area. More protection must be given to churches and 

Christian communities near the Somali border or else 

these communities will only become more vulnerable 

to al-Shabaab attacks. 

7

Your Dollar$ at Work 

Small Business Assistance for Joy in Jesus 

Church Attack Victim 

Suffering Wives and Children 

Al-Shabaab fighters attacked the Joy in 

Jesus Church in Kenya in 2014. At least 

seven people died during the attack, leaving 

many families vulnerable. 

Sarah Ambesta, a widow and mother of two 

boys, lost her husband during the incident. He 

was the breadwinner of the family, so in addition 

to grieving their loved one, they were left 

without a way to support themselves. Sarah 

moved to Nairobi to be close to her aunt and 

to hopefully start selling clothes on the street 

to provide for her family. 

When we discovered Sarah’s tragic situation, 

we investigated various ways that 

we could assist her family. First, we helped 

her locate a place where she could start her 

business and then provided renovations so it 

would be suitable for her business. Second, 

we helped her register the business and 

assisted with all the required paperwork. 

Finally, we paid for two months’ rent and 

purchased a new stock of clothes for her 

to sell. 

Sarah is now able to provide for her 

family and is excited to be serving her customers 

in her new store. She expresses her 

gratitude and remembers that God is the one 

who always provides: 

“Thank you very much and God bless you 

all! For sure I’m really grateful for the big 

job you have done for me and my kids. May 

the heavenly blessings of the Lord follow 

you and the people who stood in the gap of 

helping me and my kids. For sure we can 

now smile. Indeed, it’s a big project and I 

am humbled and grateful. Shalom.” 

The Lord once again provides through 

our caring donors who have the heart to 

help their persecuted brothers and sisters. 

Thank you for your support and donations 

that help us make a difference in the lives 

of our family in Christ. 




A Well for Qaraqosh 

Community Rebuild 

Before ISIS’ invasion, Qaraqosh was one 

of the largest Christian cities in Iraq. 

ISIS, however, caused many people to flee. 

Now that Qaraqosh is liberated, people would 

like to return, but the city is destroyed. Many 

Christians want to come back home, but 

they lack clean and consistent water sources. 

Currently, their water is sourced from Mosul. 

Christians who have returned home expressed 

frustration, “At the beginning the water was 

not clean, and comes for 15 minutes and gone 

for five minutes.” 

Unclean and sporadic water is not conducive 

to encouraging families to return 

home. We built a well for 15 of the returning 

families to ensure that they had a stable and 

clean water source for washing, cleaning, 

and watering. One Christian, Firas, told us, 

“I have olive trees on our garden. Although 

ISIS burnt the house, some of them [are] still 

alive, so the well is helping to give water to 

those trees. [Life] is getting back.” 

Water is vital to beginning the rebuilding 

process. 



Education for 

Underground 

Pastor in Nigeria 

Underground Pastors 

Thanks to the support of our donors and 

with the assistance of our team on the 

ground, we have been able to help persecuted 

Christians in Nigeria. During the implementation 

of the Youth Trauma Counseling 

Program, we established a solid partnership 

with Pastor John. He was dedicated to this 

project because he has a strong desire to help 

kids who are victims of persecution. When he 

shared his plan to further his education, we 

wanted to show him our support. 

He was granted a scholarship at Gordon 

Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts, which 

covers his tuition in full. However, Pastor John 

deferred his plans to 2017 because he needed 

to raise money for his living expenses and 

immigration paperwork. Since he has been 

a loyal partner, we decided to provide some 

financial assistance to encourage him in this 

new journey of starting his master’s degree. 

Pray for Pastor John as he pursues this 

dream to equip himself in his desire to continue 

serving the persecuted Church. 

9


Housing Assistance for Boycotted Christian Widow 

Save Our Sisters 

In 2014, a ban against the practice of 

Christianity was passed in Chhattisgarh 

state, India. This ban affected several 

Christian families that are now facing discrimination 

because they were denied access 

to necessities such as water, electricity, and 

even their fields and livestock. 

Rekha Bai, a recently converted Christian, 

was one of the many victims affected by this 

boycott. She professed her faith in Christ, so 

she was beaten at the shop where she worked 

and was later kicked out of her village. She 

lived at a bus station for a week until a 

Christian from another village allowed her to 

stay with them. 

Before her conversion to Christianity, 

Rekha lost her husband and fell into an 

alcohol addiction, which took a lot of energy 

and time to surpass. However, it was during 

this vulnerable time that she met a pastor 

who explained the Gospel to her and shared 

about Jesus’ great love. Rekha felt that the 

Lord spoke to her through the pastor and 

she immediately gave her life to Christ. Her 

employer noticed a positive change in her, 

and thus, he asked her about her transformation. 

When Rekha shared her story and told 

him about Jesus, he decided to kick her out. 

Rekha said, “Once I was living without 

any purpose and aim in my life and just earning 

and drinking, no hope at all. But when I 

was chosen by Jesus Christ, my whole life 

changed; now I have hope, aim, and purpose 

in my life.” 

Rekha’s decision to follow Christ in a 

country where Christ is not welcome was 

indeed the wisest, but not the easiest to make. 

She is in need of a more permanent housing 

solution now as well as a job to sustain 

herself. Fortunately, the Christian who is currently 

sheltering her is willing to give her a 

piece of his land where she can build a house. 

However, Rekha does not have the abilities 

nor the resources to build herself a home. 

God once again proves to be faithful to 

those who trust in Him. With the help of 

generous donors, we provided the financial 

resources to build Rekha’s home, including 

the labor, metal sheets, iron rods, doorposts, 

door, cement, flooring, and bricks. 

Rekha was very grateful and expressed her 

deepest thanks. She said, “Now I wanted to 

live for Jesus Christ and live like a testimony. 

[At one point] nobody was there to care for 

me, no family member, no well-wisher, but 

now I have [the] whole Christian community 

to care for me and worries about me more 

than I do.” Rekha went on to say, “My own 

husband and my boss where I used to work 

never cared for me during my lifetime, but 

these unknown people with great love are 

helping me and caring for me, which really 

surprises me.” 

Please keep Rekha Bai in your prayers as 

she starts her new life in a new home and a 

new village. Ask God that she would continue 

to live out and proclaim her faith in Jesus 

Christ fervently. Please pray that the believers 

who have already helped Rekha so much 

would continue to be not only an example of 

God’s grace, but also a solid Christian community 

for her. 







Bibles for Pastor Emmanuel 

Bibles 

With extrajudicial and judicial persecution, Pakistan remains a difficult place to practice 

Christianity. Radical Muslims continue to use blasphemy laws subjectively to imprison 

Christians. Employers reserve the worst jobs for religious minorities like Christians. Extremist mobs 

attack Christians practicing their faith in public and destroy Christian literature, including Bibles. 

We regularly support underground pastors and empower them to safely spread the Gospel 

throughout Pakistan. Recently, pastors have started church plants in areas that are difficult to 

reach. However, the churches need Bibles to help strengthen the congregants. 

We were able to send 100 Bibles to those church plants. These Bibles will benefit local pastors, congregants, 

and underground convert groups that follow up with Muslim and Hindu seekers. 

Six Missions with Good Life Club 


Ongoing attacks and violence against ethnic and religious minorities occur in northern Burma 

by the Burma Army in the country’s border areas. In many circumstances, religion is a 

motivating factor behind such attacks. Following their independence from the British, the new 

government targeted and brutally attacked Christians. 

In the spring of 2016, we began helping persecuted Christians in Burma by supporting six 

“Good Life Club” missions in Chin state, Kachin state, Pa-oh, and Lahu areas. Funds were used 

by the Good Life Club to buy medicine, clothes, school supplies, relief supplies, and transportation 

to bring the supplies where they needed to go. The beneficiaries, especially the kids, were 

grateful to receive the aid. 

Hope House Update 

Community Rebuild 

Through our Community Rebuild Fund, we continue to successfully reshape the Christian 

community of Upper Egypt. In the first six months of 2017, the Hope House in Egypt has 

provided educational support to over 110 Christian students, teaching math, Arabic, English, and 

computers. Hope House also provided microfinance loans to 14 Christians seeking to start new 

businesses to support their families as well as vocational training to 10 Christian women who 

were taught how to sew. 

Through all of our Hope House programs, we desire to make a major impact on the Christian 

community of Upper Egypt, where discrimination and persecution have dictated the quality of 

life for Christians for too long. 

Easter Bombing Assistance Continues 


On March 27, 2016, a suicide bomber attacked the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore, Pakistan. 

The bomber detonated only a few meters from the children’s swings. Forty-one Christians 

died in the bombing while many others were injured. 

Since then, we have assisted 19 Christian families whose breadwinners were either killed or 

handicapped by the attack. To help their long-term survival, we have provided small business 

solutions to the families that will allow them to provide for themselves. Currently, we are seeking 

to serve another five families affected by the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bombing. 

With the help of donors, we were able to donate an auto-rickshaw to each of these families. 

The auto-rickshaw will allow the families to start their own small transportation business and 

provide a sustainable income. 

11

Volunteers 

Volunteers Unite for ICC’s 

Annual Bridge Conference 

Advocacy Team 

Pushes for Bill 

In June 2017, ICC hosted the second annual 

Bridge conference on the persecuted 

Church. We brought together government 

leaders, ministries, victims of persecution, 

and the Western Church to learn how to 

effectively serve those who are suffering for 

their faith. This year’s conference was held 

in Southern California. As a ministry based 

in Washington D.C., this naturally posed 

some logistical challenges. 

Thankfully, volunteers from throughout 

the state of California offered their valuable 

time and efforts to help bring this conference 

to fruition. Nearly 25 people volunteered 

to help with registration, set-up, clean-up, 

translation, workshops, and countless other 

tasks as needed. They arrived early and 

stayed late, ensuring that everything was 

taken care of to help the event run as smoothly 

as possible. 

According to ICC’s volunteer coordinator, 

“Without the help of this wonderful 

group of volunteers, we wouldn’t have 

been able to pull off an event of this scale. 

These volunteers went above and beyond 

to make sure that ICC’s staff members 

had everything they needed. It was incredible 

to see this group of strangers come 

together with a common goal all in the 

name of supporting the persecuted. I look 

forward to working with this group again 

in the future!” 

Several speakers and attendees also commented 

on how helpful the volunteers at 

The Bridge were. Their service and professionalism 

left a lasting impression on all 

those who worked with them. 

At the conclusion of The Bridge conference, 

ICC hosted a training for those who 

were interested in volunteering with ICC 

on a long-term basis. Many of the attendees 

at this training were those who helped 

with the conference and were interested in 

connecting with ICC’s regular volunteer 

program. 

To everyone who offered their time, 

hard work, and prayers to help execute this 

year’s Bridge conference, we cannot thank 

you enough. 

“Whatever you did 

for one of the least 

of these brothers of 

mine, you did for Me.” 

– MATTHEW 25:40 (NIV) 

A 

n essential branch of ICC’s mission is 

advocating on behalf of the persecuted 

within the government. Often, ICC’s advocacy 

department calls on those in the volunteer 

program to help mobilize grassroots efforts. 

In July, a vital piece of legislation, the North 

Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act 

of 2017, was stuck in the Senate Foreign 

Relations Committee. If passed, this bill 

would help persecuted Christians in North 

Korea by providing humanitarian aid to 

North Korean refugees, countering propaganda 

information to North Koreans still living 

in North Korea, and appointing a special 

envoy to work to protect human rights in 

North Korea. 

In response, ICC’s volunteers helped 

advocate for this important bill. Volunteers 

throughout the US contacted Sen. Bob 

Corker, the head of the Senate Foreign 

Relations Committee, urging him to prioritize 

this piece of legislation. In addition, volunteers 

all over the world helped raise awareness 

about this campaign on social media, 

bringing greater awareness to the issue of 

Christian persecution in North Korea. Thanks 

to many concerned volunteers, this bill could 

potentially bring relief to thousands who are 

suffering for their faith. 




Looking for a Way to Make a Difference in the World? Join Our Team of Volunteers! 

For those wishing to assist the persecuted Church, many are not sure how to get started. However, volunteers all over the world are making a difference 

within their own communities as members of ICC’s five different volunteer teams: Advocacy, Awareness, Office, Prayer, and Special Projects. 

By standing up for the persecuted in countless different ways, ICC’s volunteers have played a crucial role in connecting the global Church by 

bridging the gap between the persecuted and the Western Church. It only takes one person to make a difference – are you willing to take the call? 

Persecution Magazine Volunteers 

One of the most important aspects of ICC’s ministry is raising 

awareness about persecution by sharing the stories of the persecuted. 

Through the monthly Persecution magazine, we have helped give 

a voice to persecuted Christians who often have no other outlet to 

share their stories. Volunteers around the world have helped extend 

the reach of Persecution magazine by distributing extra copies in 

their communities. They have distributed magazines in their offices, 

schools, doctor’s offices, grocery stores, and more! Through their 

efforts, both Christians and non-Christians alike have read about the 

faithfulness of God in the midst of persecution. 

Translation Volunteers 

As an organization that works on projects all over the world, our supporters 

are a very diverse group. As a result, many of those who support 

our work are not native English-speakers. Those on the volunteer 

Awareness Team have stepped in to make informational materials more 

widely accessible to those in their communities. Volunteers help translate 

magazine articles, news releases, and prayer requests into other 

languages to distribute in their communities. This allows us to reach 

out to people who may have otherwise never heard the stories of the 

persecuted if not for the translation work of dedicated volunteers. 

Volunteer Teams 

1 Advocacy Fight for justice for the persecuted through petitions, Congress 

calls, and more. 

2 Awareness Raise your voice through speaking in churches, writing, and social 

media. 

3 Office Lighten the load of ICC’s staff by helping with administrative assignments. 

4 Prayer Intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ both individually and as 

a church. 

5 Special Projects Volunteer on your own schedule through one-time projects. 



Interested in Serving? 

Online Apply on our website at: 

http://www.persecution.org/how-you-canhelp/volunteer 

or send an email to 

volunteer@persecution.org 

Phone Want more information? Feel free 

to call us at (301) 585-5915. 

13

EGYPT’S CHRISTIANS ON 

THE ANVIL OF ISLAM 

Egyptian Christians have endured relentless 

and violent persecution for 1,400 years. 

By Jeff King, ICC President 




Christianity arrived in Egypt in the first century, a 

few years after the birth of Christianity. By the 

300s, it was a thriving center of Christianity that 

Church fathers, Clement (of Alexandria) and 

Origen, called home. 

All this changed in the year 639 when Amr 

ibn al-‘As entered Egypt with only 4,000 Arab 

troops and began to take cities. 

The Arabization and Islamization of Egypt 

took time, but once established, began many 

centuries of persecution. 

Fast forward to the last 10 years and you see Egypt becoming 

increasingly hostile to Christians. The military dictatorship that has 

ruled Egypt for almost 70 years is weakening. Their corruption and 

economic monopolies on various sectors of the economy have left 

them politically vulnerable. 

Frustration with the military blossomed in the “Arab Spring,” but 

as we expected and predicted, led only to a takeover by the Muslim 

Brotherhood. 

Luckily, they overplayed their hand and Egyptians rose up again 



and threw them out as they realized they would be bigger oppressors 

than the military. 

While the military has regained power, they are weak and 

must play ball with fundamentalist organizations like the Muslim 

Brotherhood and Salafists. 

The level of persecution against Christians has risen dramatically 

in the last 10 years. While el-Sisi has made many positive comments 

about protecting Christians, little has changed. 

What comes next in Egypt is unknown, but the Christians there 

are incredibly vulnerable so we will continue to build and bandage 

the Church in Egypt and we welcome you to join us. 

In the following pages, we have attempted to lay out a broad 

sketch of Christianity in Egypt so that you can understand everything 

from its history to the life of an average Christian. 

We will start with a timeline of Egyptian history and then an infographic 

to lay out the different forces driving persecution and factors 

affecting Christians. 

We hope this will help you make sense of the various forces at 

play that join together and keep Christians on the anvil of Islam 

in Egypt. 

15

Timeline of Egyptian History & I 

(7000 BC 

7000 BC 

ANCIENT EGYPT 

Settlement of Nile Valley. Upper/ 

Lower kingdoms unite 

Conquered by Assyrians, Persians, 

Alexander the Great, Romans 

31 AD 

32 AD-642 

Christianity established and spre 

CHRIS 

INTRODUCTION AN 

Introduction of Christianity in Egypt. By 4th 

642-831 

Thousands of Christians killed. 

Remainder must convert, work 

as semi-slaves, or leave Egypt 

831-832 

Revolt squashed by Muslim 

authorities, leaving no chance 

of Christianity resurging. Coptic 

Pope imprisoned, tortured 

1009 

Fanatic orders destruction 

of churches in Palestine, 

Egypt, and Syria 

642 

ISLAMIC INVASION 

ESTABLISHMENT OF ISLAM 

Islamic invasion and consolidation of power 

Christian exodus begins en masse. Christians leave or convert to 

Islam to live without persecution 

Islamic fundamentalist re 

emerges. Becomes known a 

1882 

British troops 

defeat Egyptian 

army, take 

control of the 

country 

1912 

Mahmoud Khattab al-Sobki (thought 

leader of Muslim Brotherhood) forms 

group to propagate Salafist teaching 

to clerics 

1922 

Egypt gains independence. 

British influence remains 

until mid-1950’s 

1926 

Main Salafist 

group is 

founded by a 

graduate of 

Al-Azhar and 

student of 

famed Muslim 

reformer 

1928 

Muslim Brotherhood 

founded by Hassan 

al-Banna, campaigns 

to reorient Egypt and 

Middle East away from 

Western influence 

1882 

BRITISH RULE 

Salafism begins 

to take root 

at Al-Azhar 

University 

Islamic fundamentalist rebirth with Salafist movement and birth of Brotherhood 

Oil production begins in Gulf States. Egyptians begin to be radicalized as they move to Egypt for oil-relate 




mpact on Christian Persecution 

-1970 AD) 

ad throughout Egypt 

TIAN PERIOD 

D ESTABLISHMENT OF CHRISTIANITY 

century, displaces existing religion. Thousands of Christians killed. 

642 

Government/ 

Military 

Christianity/ 

Persecution 

Radical Islam 

1300s 

“Salafism” emerges as a 

fundamentalist movement 

of strict adherence to 

Quran and Hadith 

1700s 

Wahhabism founder 

begins preaching 

Saudi-Gulf Financing 

1517 

OTTOMAN EMPIRE 

1882 

surgence 

s “Salafism” 

Egypt absorbed into Turkish Ottoman Empire 

Birth of Wahhabism 

1952 

July: Army 

coup. King 

Farouk 

abdicates. 

British rule ends 

1954 

General Nasser becomes prime 

minister (pres. in 1956) 

1960 

OPEC formed by 

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, 

Kuwait, Venezuela 

1967 

Israel pre-emptively defeats 

Egypt, Jordan, Syria. Massive 

loss for Nasser. 

1970 

Nasser dies, probably 

poisoned. Succeeded by Vice 

President Anwar al-Sadat 

1952 

RULE OF NASSER 

ALIGNS WITH USSR 

Nasser tries to bring Arabs together under Pan Arab movement 

d jobs. 



17

1970 


1972 

Sadat releases 

Brotherhood/Salafis to 

counter Nasser/Marxists 

Sadat expels Soviets, 

reorients Egypt to the West 

1973 

OPEC declares oil embargo 

against US. Prices go from 

from $3/bbl to 

$12/bbl in a year 

Egypt/Syria attack Israel 

1975 

(1970- 

Saudi government spends an 

average of $2-3 billion/year to 

spread radical Wahhabi/Salafi Islam 

1977 

Sadat visits Israel. 

Radicals paint bullseye 

on his back 

SADAT ERA 

POINTS EGYPT TOWARD WEST AND FREE MARKET 

Oil money pours into Saudi and Gulf States. These states initiate plan to radicalize Islam worldwide that continues today 

They seed political, terror, theological groups, and radical mosques around the world. Large subsidies given to Egypt. 

1981 

Mubarak reimposes State of 

Emergency. Restricts freedoms 

1992-97 

Terrorists attack 

government, tourists. 

Kill 62 in 1997 

2005 

May: Constitutional 

amendment allows 

multiple candidates at 

presidential elections 

July: Scores killed in Islamist 

bomb attacks 

Oct: Nun stabbed by Muslim 

Dec: Mubarak jails opposition 

leader. Brotherhood wins 20% 

of Parliament 

1981 

RULE O 

Beginning of rule, Mubarak crushes 

Brotherhood since they assassinated 

predecessor Sadat 

After decade 

Mub 

Brotherhood wins 20% of seats in Parliament 





2010) 

. 

1979 

Second oil shock in response to Iranian 

revolution. Price of oil doubles in 12 months 

1981 

Sadat assassinated by 

Islamists. Succeeded by 

Vice President Mubarak 

1981 

Government/ 

Military 

Christianity/ 

Persecution 

Radical Islam 

Saudi-Gulf Financing 

2007 

Feb: Christian homes, 

shops burned 

Mar: Christian imprisoned 

for criticizing Muslim 

attack on church 

Sept: Christians attacked 

2008 

Apr: 80 Brotherhood leaders 

jailed. Brotherhood boycotts 

elections when only 20 

candidates allowed to stand 

F MUBARAK 

2009 

Feb: Christian mother sexually assaulted 

then forced to recant her faith by police 

Apr: Christian shops attacked 

May: Cairo church bombed. Muslims 

attack Christians. Police arrest Christians 

Aug 26: Hezbollah members on 

trial for plotting attacks 

Sept: Church firebombed. 

Nov: 3,000 Muslims attack 

Christians, burn crosses 

Dec: Eight Coptic Christians killed 

2010 

Persecution increases. Homes 

burned, churches closed, pastors 

killed, girls abducted. Sheik calls 

for jihad against Christians 

Mar: Egypt State Security 

demolishes Anglican church. 

Pastor, wife killed 

June: Brotherhood loses elections, 

allege that vote was rigged 

s of organization and giving aid to masses, Brotherhood amasses political power and good will. 

arak is forced to loosen their leash. Brotherhood and Salafists turn increasingly violent 

Last 10 years of Mubarak’s rule, he takes leash off Brotherhood and Salafists as he tries to build 

base of support for turnover of power to son 

Large rise in violence toward Christians and churches 



19

2011 


(2011- 

2011 2012 

Feb: Mubarak cedes 

power to army council 

Mar: Nine Christians killed, 150 

injured in attack 

• Imam says, “Kill all Christians” 

• Church burned down 

Apr-Aug: Protests over slow pace 

of political change. Islamist groups 

come to the forefront 

May: 12 Christians murdered, 

232 injured 

• Coptic church besieged 

June: Eight Christian homes torched 

Aug: Coptic Christian killed 

Oct: 27 killed, 329 injured in 

police clash 

Oct: Protesters killed in riots 

Nov: Security forces clash with 

protesters accusing the military 

of trying to keep power 

Dec: National unity government 

headed by new prime minister 

takes office 

Dec: Thousands attack 

Christians, kill two 

ARAB SPRING and 

EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION 

Several Islamic countries recall exchange 

students from Al-Azhar University due to 

its increasingly radical leanings. 

Salafists create the Al-Nour political party 

to push for strict Sharia Law 

“Arab Spring” begins with Tunisian street 

protests. Mubarak steps down. Revolution 

begins. Brotherhood and radical Islamists 

gather 70% of seats in Parliament 

Brotherhood 

capitalizes on 

power vacuum and 

hijacks election. 

They have national 

network and lots of 

political goodwill 

after decades of 

public service 

Jan: Christians attacked, homes burned 

• 3,000 Muslims attack homes, businesses 

Feb: 20,000 Muslims attempt to kill pastor, torch church 

• School employee jailed for insulting Muhammad 

May: Teen jailed for posting cartoons of Muhammad on 

Facebook 

May: State of Emergency ends 

May 2012 

June: Brotherhood candidate Morsi 

wins presidential election. Court 

imprisons Mubarak for life 

July: Homes burned 

Aug: Families forced out of 

homes by Muslim neighbors 

• Jihadist organizations: Faithful 

Muslims should kill Christians 

Aug: New prime minister, appoints cabinet with 

outgoing government, Islamists; excludes secular, 

liberal forces 

• Morsi strips military of power in new constitution 

Sept: Islamists installed in Egypt state institutions 

• Egyptian protesters torch US embassy flag 

Sept: Christians imprisoned 

• Families threatened by Islamic radicals 

• Coptic Christian arrested 

Oct: Christians attacked 

Nov: Brotherhood calls Coptic Pope to 

support Islamic law 

Nov: Sharia declared main source of law in Egypt 

Dec: Draft constitution approved; supports Islam, 

restricts freedoms 

• Government paralysis weakens currency, delays 

$4.8B IMF loan 

Dec: Islamists intimidate Christians during voting 

BROTHERHOOD and 

PRESIDENT MORSI 

Islamists attack army outpost, kill 16 soldiers, marking a 

new surge in radicalism 

Brotherhood candidate Morsi wins presidency, quickly 

moves to crush alternative power structures in judiciary, 

legislature, press, and military 





2017) 

2013 

Jan: Over 50 protesters killed 

• Army chief warns political strife 

is pushing state to collapse 

Feb: Church destroyed, Christians attacked 

June: Morsi appoints Islamic allies as 

regional leaders in 13 of 27 governorships 

July: Army overthrows Morsi 

Aug: Hundreds killed as security 

forces storm pro-Morsi camps 

Aug: 40 Coptic churches destroyed 

Oct: US suspends large part 

of $1.3 billion in aid 

Dec: Government declares 

Brotherhood a terrorist 

group after bombing kills 12 

2014 

Jan: New constitution bans 

parties based on religion 

2015 

Feb: 21 Coptic Christians killed 

Apr: Ousted Morsi sentenced to 20 years in prison 

May: Morsi condemned to death. 100 Brotherhood 

members imprisoned 

May: Christian man convicted of blasphemy 

July: ISIS launches wave of attacks in North Sinai 

Oct: ISIS destroys Russian airliner in 

Sinai, killing crew and 224 passengers 

2016 

Jan: ISIS attacks tourist site, kills 10 

May: Christian activist arrested 

• Homes burned, elderly woman beaten 

June: 80 Christian homes burned 

• Priest assassinated by ISIS 

July: Muslim mob kills Christian, wounds three 

• Five homes burned, four attacked 

Sept: New law further restricts church construction 

Nov: Appeals court overturns Morsi’s 

death sentence, orders retrial 

June 2013 

Jan-Feb: At least eight 

abducted 

Feb: Seven Egyptian Christians 

brutally killed in Libya 

May: Former army chief el-Sisi 

wins presidential election 

June: three al-Jazeera 

journalists jailed in Morsi 

crackdown 

June: Man charged with 

blasphemy for liking a 

Facebook page 

Nov: Sinai-based armed group 

allies with ISIS. Renames itself 

Sinai Province 

MILITARY RULE 

Nov: Mobs attack, destroy property 

Dec: Cairo church bombing kills 25. ISIS 

claims bombing, threatens more attacks 

2017 

Jan: Christian shopkeeper murdered 

Feb: Killings force Coptic Christian 

families to flee 

Apr: Suicide bombers kill dozens 

at two churches celebrating Palm 

Sunday. State of Emergency declared 

May: Christian man murdered in Sinai 

June: Government raids a church 

Morsi and Brotherhood overthrown by military after second revolt. Masses infuriated by 

Brotherhood. Military regains power and Sisi takes reins 

Present 



21

Forces and Factors 

Driving Christian 

Persecution in 

Egypt 

I S L A M 

Islamic State 

A Sunni-Islam terrorist group 

trying to establish a caliphate. 

Radicalization 

Encouraging the adoption of 

extreme views. 

Muslim Brotherhood 

Radical, transnational Sunni 

political group birthed in 

Egypt in the 1920s, dedicated 

to the establishment and rule 

of radical Islam. 

Salafists/Wahhabism 

Ultra-conservative branches 

of Islam influenced and 

financed by Saudi Arabia. 

Sharia Law 

Set of Islamic laws laid down by 

Muhammad that is designed to 

slowly strangle other faiths. 

Al-Azhar 

Sunni Islam’s most prestigious university with two 

million students across Egypt which radicalizes 

college-age students as well as youth. 

Military & Political 

• A military dictatorship has ruled Egypt since 1952 

(except for the brief rule of Morsi) headed by Nasser, 

Sadat, Mubarak, and el-Sisi. 

• 25% of Egypt is illiterate and more than 80% are 

conservative Muslims who are easily manipulated 

by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists. 

• The military needs the support of these groups which 

give the radicals immunity in their oppression and 

attacks of Christians. 

• The military’s corruption (see Economy) makes them 

politically vulnerable, making room for the radicals. 

Economy 

• The military monopolizes approximately 30-40% 

of the industries in Egypt, leading to massive 

corruption, economic stagnation, and poverty. 

• The Brotherhood and Salafists provide a wide net of 

social services for the poor, giving them immense 

political power and influence for radicalization. 

• Christians do not have access to these social services. 

• One’s religion is listed on his or her birth certificate and 

ID cards, making discrimination easy. 

• Christians are barred from top jobs in government 

and industry. 




C H R I S T I A N I T Y 

Coptic & Protestant Christians 

Copts (Orthodox Christians) are led by a Pope with 

significant government oversight. The government 

hides actual numbers, but 12-15 million Egyptians 

are Coptic and one million are Protestant. 

Discrimination 

Christians are discriminated 

against in education, jobs, 

healthcare, etc. 

Attacks 

Fundamentalists attack and kill 

Christians as well as burn down 

their homes and churches. 

Sharia Law 

Egypt’s Constitution says 

Sharia Law is the foundation 

of Egypt’s laws. This creates 

an environment where 

Christians are targeted and 

perpetrators are not punished. 

Generational Poverty 

Christians suffer from a vicious cycle of 

generational poverty tied to educational 

deficits and job discrimination. 

Educational Deficits 

Christians are last in line for scholarships, 

awards, educational perks, and opportunities. 

Abductions 

Christian women and girls 

are frequently kidnapped, 

raped, forcibly converted, 

and “married.” Perpetrators 

are often not prosecuted. 

Church Suppression 

Churches cannot be built or repaired without 

the approval of the governor, State security, 

and numerous other government ministries. 

Education 

• Egypt’s Saudi-based school curriculum teaches 

hatred of Christians and infuses Islam into every 

subject. 

• The government regularly announces its intent to 

revise its school curricula, but it is never carried out. 

• The government funds Islamic schools and, in some 

cases, is required by the constitution to fund schools 

like Al-Azhar. 

• A massive network of free private Muslim schools 

financed by the Saudis are closed to Christians. 

Judiciary 

• The constitution is based on Sharia Law, creating an 

extremely hostile environment for Christians. 

• Egyptian judges often make decisions based on bribes, 

lobbying, and the whim of government officials, not on justice. 

• In the last 10 years, not one Muslim has been sentenced for 

attacking Christians. 

• After attacks on Christians, government officials often 

force Christians to participate in private reconciliation 

meetings rather than punish Muslim perpetrators. 



23

Am I 

Next? 

Since December 2016, Coptic Christians have 

experienced an exponential increase in attacks. 

By Amy Penn 






St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church 

On Dec. 11, 2016, a suicide bomber killed a total of 29 people 

and injured 47 others. ICC visited the church in April, where 

pillars still bear the scars of the violent attack. 

Over 110 Egyptian Christians have been 

killed, hundreds more injured, and 355 

families displaced from their homes—all 

within the past 10 months. The pace of 

attacks has been rising for years and seems 

to keep getting worse by the year. These 

attacks are well-planned and strategically 

executed, leaving local Christians in fear. 

Am I next? Will my family come home? 

Will we survive the next worship service? 

What will happen to my family if I’m 

killed? Will my wife be able to take care of 

our children? 

December 11, 2016: Cairo 

Church Bombing 

On Sunday morning, men knelt on one 

side of St. Peter’s Church and women worshipped 

on the other. Suddenly, an explosion 

ripped through the church from the women’s 

side. Debris flew everywhere and smoke and 

flames filled the church. The men rushed to 

the other side, looking for their wives, mothers, 

and sisters. 

One cathedral worker, Attiya Mahrous, 

who helped the victims, recounted the tragic 

scene to ICC, “I found bodies, many of them 

women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible 

scene.” The carnage was the result of approximately 

26 pounds of TNT placed in the pews. 

Church member Mena Adel said that “the 

church bombing was planned and carried 

out meticulously.” The perpetrator used the 

crowds to sneak in and sneak out, but one 

person saw him leave. Nabil Habib, a church 

guard, saw the man leaving the church and 

tried to approach him, but the bomb detonated 

before Habib reached him. Habib was killed 

in the attack. 

Habib’s wife, Nadia, remembered her husband 

as a man who devoted his life to the 

church, “He died defending the church… 

and everyone loved him.” With Habib’s loss, 

Nadia is left to both grieve and try to provide 

for her family. 

January-February 2017: 

Seven Killings in El-Arish 

A few weeks after this deadliest attack on 

Christians in years, an ISIS-affiliated group 

began to systematically target Christians 

in El-Arish, a city located just four hours 

from Cairo. Masked gunmen executed seven 

Christian men between January and February. 

Some were shot, others burned alive, but all 

of the killings occurred after the ISIS affiliate 

vowed to eliminate the Christian minority, 

calling them their “favorite prey.” 

25

The militants carried out this attack very carefully; they 

knew the details of the trip…its time, and ambushed 

the buses...” 

“One of the Christian men was 49-yearold 

Gamal Tawfiq Gares. On February 16, 

Gares was working his second job as a street 

vendor when two men approached him and 

his wife, asking him if he was Gamal Gares. 

Namea, Gares’ widow, told ICC, “My husband 

answered yes and then one of [the men] 

took out a gun from his clothes and shot my 

husband in the head.” 

Namea told ICC that people in the market 

did nothing until the gunmen left, but it was 

too late. “My five children and I didn’t go to 

our home in Arish. We received the body of 

my husband and fled…We left everything in 

Arish.” 

As you can imagine, to suddenly flee your 

home to save your life is extraordinarily stressful. 

Many of them found shelter in cramped, 

dirty housing, but had little food and no work. 

The government promised assistance, but has 

yet to follow through. 

April 9, 2017: Palm Sunday 

Bombings 

In April, less than a month after the Arish families 

fled, two more churches were bombed on 

Palm Sunday at St. George’s Church in Tanta. 

An ISIS affiliate group detonated an explosive 

device inside the church during worship. Several 

found Raouf lying in a morgue. 

Ghattas Attallah wept as he remembered 

Palm Sunday. He and his son, Girgis, were 

selling palm branches at the doorway of the 

church when “the explosion occurred, the 

whole building shook, the glass smashed.” He 

said, “I rushed to the place of the explosion, 

the church door, and I found my son, Girgis, 

lying on the ground on his back in a pool of 

blood with the palm [branches] he was selling 

mixed with his blood. The shrapnel of the 

bomb penetrated his brain.” 

Girgis’ wife, Mariam, was at another church 

for mass when news of the explosion reached 

her. Immediately, she left the church and “ran 

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church 

On Dec. 11, 2016, a suicide bomber killed a total of 29 people and injured 

47 others. This was the largest church attack in Egypt in recent history 

and ISIS claimed responsibility. Wikimedia Creative Commons image. 

Security camera footage captures the dust 

cloud moments after the bomb went off in 

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church. 

The intentionality associated with the killings 

convinced many Christians in El-Arish 

that there was a kill list that the militants were 

following and the whole community wondered 

whose name was next. 

February 2017: Arish 

Families Flee 

No one wanted to wait and see if they were 

next on the kill list, so the remaining Christian 

families fled from their homes. Over 355 families 

scattered to four areas in Upper Egypt: 

Ismailia, Port Said, El Qanara, and Cairo. 

hours later, a suicide bomber exploded his vest 

at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria. Between 

both explosions, at least 44 people were killed 

and hundreds more wounded. 

Phebi’s husband, Raouf, was at St. George’s 

when the bomb exploded. Phebi remembered 

that Raouf left particularly early for church 

that day. She was dressing her children when 

she heard the explosion. Immediately, she 

told ICC, her children screamed, “Papa, Papa!” 

Phebi raced to the church and began desperately 

searching for her husband’s body, but 

none of the bodies were Raouf’s. She left 

the church, fearing the worst, and eventually 

crying down the street,” trying to call both 

her husband and father-in-law. Her cousin 

discovered that her injured husband was at 

a local hospital. By the time she arrived at 

the hospital, she was too late. The hospital 

informed her that her husband died, so she 

said her goodbyes to his body in the morgue. 

May 6, 2017: Eighth 

Christian Killed in El-Arish 

Several weeks later, an Arish Christian, 

Nabeel, who was struggling for work, 

decided that he could no longer stay with his 




family in Port Said. 

Without work, he 

couldn’t provide. He 

returned to El-Arish 

and risked opening 

his business again to 

earn money to send 

his family. 

On May 6, Nabeel 

was at his barbershop 

when masked gunmen 

found and shot him. His 

death ensured that no 

other Christian would 

return to El-Arish. 

May 26, 2017: 

Minya Bus 

Attack 

Twenty days later, “10 masked [militants] 

in four 4x4 vehicles intercepted” a caravan of 

Christians headed to St. Samuel’s Monastery 

She left the 

church and 

“ran crying 

down the 

street,” trying 

to call both her 

husband and 

father-in-law. 

– MARIAM, WIFE OF PALM 

SUNDAY BOMBING VICTIM 

indiscriminately fired at 

the bus until they found 

a way onto the bus. 

The gunmen tried to 

force the Christian men 

to convert, but when 

they refused, the militants 

shot them. Siham 

remembers that they 

continued firing at the 

bus as they headed for 

the two trucks of day 

laborers. 

Once they reached 

the trucks, they tried 

to force the workers to 

convert and killed them 

when they refused. 

Then, the militants 

returned, set the bus on fire, and left. 

Siham lost her husband, brother, father-inlaw, 

brother-in-law, five-year-old niece, and 

fifteen-year-old nephew in the attack. 

The police said the church was not licensed 

and thus illegal. Church leaders sought legal 

assistance, but in the end, authorities said that 

the building could only be used as a community 

building. No religious rites were allowed. 

One Christian villager told ICC, “There are 

five big mosques in our village, but there isn’t 

any church to worship in although there are 

more than 60 Christian families in the village.” 

These Christian villagers have struggled for 

years to find a place to worship. In fact, some 

of the villagers were on the bus caravan to 

pray at St. Samuel’s. Without a place of worship 

at home, Christians looked elsewhere for 

a safe place to worship, but were caught in a 

vicious attack instead. 

Conclusion 

Despite the bombings and assassinations 

of Egypt’s Christians, fearful Christians still 

want to respond in love. One Christian’s 

statement summarizes so much of their spirit 

The aftermath of the bombing in St. Peter 

and St. Paul’s Church on Dec. 11, 2016. 

Coptic Orthodox Media Center photo. 

to pray, “and opened fire.” Approximately 35 

men, women, and children were killed. One 

source told ICC that “the militants carried 

out this attack very carefully; they knew the 

details of the trip…its time, and ambushed 

the buses.” 

Siham remembers how her husband got off 

the bus to see if it had broken down, but militants 

greeted him instead. “After he got out 

of the bus, he closed its door [and] masked 

gunmen saw my husband and shot him in 

the head, instantly killing him. When I saw 

him killed, I said, ‘Do your will, O God.’” 

After killing Siham’s husband, the militants 



June 2017: Church Closure 

In Egypt, churches must be licensed by 

the government. It is difficult for Christian 

churches to obtain a license, causing many 

Christians to gather in illegal places of worship. 

In Saft Al-Kharsa, the bishop filed a 

church license request in November 2016, but 

has received no response. In the meantime, 

congregants continued to use their building as 

a church, but in June 2017, Christians arrived 

one day to find that the police had raided the 

church, thrown the church’s property into the 

street, and chained the door shut. 

and their obedience to live as foreigners to 

this world. 

“I want to say to those terrorists who killed 

our martyrs, ‘We forgive you and love you 

because our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of 

the world, came to redeem all of mankind…’ 

Christ has [said]…love your enemies, do 

good to those who hate you, bless those who 

curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” 

Rather than seeking vengeance, one Coptic 

Christian told ICC, “We want to plant the love 

and tolerance inside our children from their 

childhood, so they can live in love and tolerance 

when they grow up.” 

27

Wael Youssef 

Suleiman Kaldas 

Faces of Egyptian Martyrs 

Gamal 

Tawfiq Gares 

Nabil 

Habib 

El-Arish 

Attack Victim 

On January 30, 2017, Wael Youssef 

Suleiman Kaldas, age 37, was sitting outside 

of his corner store in El-Arish when two 

masked men approached. His wife, Nevin, 

was watching from inside the store. The men 

shot Kaldas five times while Nevin watched, 

killing him on the spot. 

Kaldas was the first of seven Christians 

targeted and killed in El-Arish by masked 

gunmen in early 2017. A father of two boys 

at the time of his death, he worked hard every 

day to support his family. Kaldas and Nevin 

moved to El-Arish shortly after they were 

married in 2008. He got a job working for 

the town council of El-Arish, but also owned 

and ran a corner store to support his growing 

family. 

On March 1, 2017, more than a month after 

his murder, Kaldas’ wife, Nevin, gave birth to 

a baby girl name Philomena. 

El-Arish 

Attack Victim 

On February 16, 2017, Gamal Tawfiq 

Gares, age 49, was approached by two 

masked men at the table where he sold plastic 

slippers in El-Arish. The men pulled out a gun 

and shot him in the head, killing him instantly. 

Gares was one of the seven Christians targeted 

and killed in El-Arish by masked gunmen 

in early 2017. Before becoming a victim 

of this brutal persecution, however, Gares was 

a father, husband, employee at a local school, 

and servant in his church. 

Gares and his wife moved to El-Arish a 

year after they were married in 1993 because 

Gares was given an administrative post at the 

Alsamaran Primary School. In El-Arish, they 

had six children. To support his large family, 

Gares sold plastic slippers every Thursday at the 

local market in El-Arish. He will be remembered 

as a kind man who had a strong relationship with 

the Lord and worked hard for his family. 

St. Peter & St. Paul’s 

Church Bombing Victim 

On December 11, 2016, Nabil Habib, 

age 48, was killed in the bombing of 

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church in Cairo. 

Working as a guard for 20 years, he was 

known and loved by every member of the 

church. 

Habib, his wife Nadia, and their three children 

lived in a small house inside the church 

compound. According to Nadia, he loved the 

church where worked and worshiped so much 

that he told her on many occasions that he was 

willing to defend the church even with his 

“own blood.” 

Leaving behind three children, the memory 

of their loving father will remain with all of 

Habib’s children. His youngest, Fadi, now 

two years old, still cries at the door, searching 

for his father. For now, Nadia brings Fadi a 

picture of his father which has helped calm the 

grieving child. 




Mariana 

Fahim Helmy 

Faces of Egyptian Martyrs 

Girgis 

Ghattas Attallah 

Nasef 

Mamdouh Ayad 

Fberonya 

Fahim Helmy 

St. Peter & St. Paul’s 

Church Bombing Victims 

On December 10, 2016, after shopping 

for new clothes for Christmas, Mariana 

Fahim Helmy, age 21, her sister Fberonya 

Fahim Helmy, age 19, and their mother Nahla 

stayed up past 2:00 a.m., talking and joking 

around. The next day, Nahla stayed home 

and rested. Her two daughters attended second 

mass at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church 

in Cairo when it was attacked by a suicide 

bomber. The two sisters did not survive. 

According to their parents, Nahla and 

Fahim, the sisters were inseparable. “My 

daughters were linked to each other,” Fahim 

told ICC. “They were together everywhere, at 

home and at church.” 

“A long time ago, I hoped to have a boy to 

bear my name after my death,” Fahim told 

ICC. “But now my daughters have made my 

name better than if I had a boy because I am 

the father of two martyrs. I am proud of that.” 



St. Mark’s 

Church Bombing Victim 

On April 9, 2017, Girgis Ghattas 

Attallah, age 36, was killed in the 

bombing of St. Mark’s Cathedral in 

Alexandria. Arriving at the church the night 

before, Attallah and his father, Ghattas, had 

arranged to sell palm fronds to worshipers 

at the church as they had done for many 

years on Palm Sunday. 

Attallah was known by friends and family 

as a kind man, a son of the church, 

with a strong relationship with the Lord. 

Survived by his wife, Mariam, and their 

six-year-old daughter, Demiana, Attallah 

will be desperately missed both as a spouse 

and provider for their family. 

“God has sent me comfort through my 

daughter Demiana,” Mariam told ICC. 

“When she sees me crying, she wipes my 

tears and says to me, ‘Why are you sad? 

Papa is happy in heaven.’” 

Minya Bus 

Attack Victim 

On May 26, 2017, Nasef Mamdouh Ayad, 

age 30, left his home village of Deir 

El-Garnous in Minya to find work at a 

church bell factory at the Monastery of St. 

Samuel the Confessor. Nasef and the six 

other Christians he was traveling with were 

killed before reaching the monastery when 

their truck was attacked by ISIS militants. 

Leaving behind his wife, Nawal, two 

sons, Kirolos and Abanoub, and one daughter, 

Irene, Ayad was going to work at the 

factory to pay a debt he had incurred for an 

eye surgery Nawal received two days before 

his death. 

“My husband was a simple worker,” Nawal 

told ICC. “He worked hard to support us. He 

was a kind and humble man and I’m very 

happy that God has chosen him to be a martyr. 

I pray for those who killed my husband. 

May God guide them to His way.” 

29

Feature Article 

A 

Day 

in the 

Life 

The Luxor, Egypt train station. 

of an 

Egyptian 

Christian 

By William Stark 

Each day, Christians living in Upper (southern) Egypt face a difficult struggle to survive because they are 

Christian. The widespread discrimination and outright persecution they endure defines much of their lives, 

ranging from their children’s education to the menial jobs they work to support their families. The narrative 

below illustrates a single day in the life of one of these Christians. While fictional, it is also a composite of 

actual experiences and represents the day-to-day reality for millions of Christians in Egypt. 

When I woke up before the dawn, I 

realized that it was Saturday, the 

beginning of another work week. 

I had to get ready once again to 

head into town to look for a job for 

the day. I put on my clothes, doing 

so quietly in hopes of leaving the 

house before anyone else woke up. 

I especially didn’t want to wake 

my wife. If I did, she would remind 

me, as she always does, that we need money for our two younger 

children who are still in grade school. Managing to slip out unnoticed 

and thankful to have avoided that conversation again, I then thought 

about my other two older sons. They dropped out of high school last 

year after the violence. I remember them coming home and telling me 

they saw their teacher in the mob that raided our street. Even though 

the mob didn’t kill anybody—on our street at least—my kids refused to 

go back to school after that. Without further education, I guess they will 

now be resigned to a life of hard labor like me. The younger two were 

lucky they weren’t older during the violence. They still haven’t lost hope. 

It was still dark outside when I left. I took the longer route to the 

train station. I never go the shorter route anymore, at least since the 

violence. I always remember my old friend Ragy when I think about 

going that way. The memory still seems so fresh, even though a year 

has already passed since the mob killed him. He was a nice guy, never 

harmed anybody, but still, the mob didn’t care. All they saw was a guy 

worthy of killing because he was “unclean” – a Christian. They still call 

us that in the village. 

When I finally got to the station, I had to wait as the train was 

delayed, as usual. Sitting there on a bench, still thinking about Ragy 

and the violence last year, I remembered how I had tried to escape with 

my family. We didn’t get very far. The mobs were everywhere, going 

around the village, beating up any of us they saw. Sadly we had been 

forced to retreat back to the tiny, two-bedroom concrete box, crammed 

in a row of other concrete boxes, we call home. Fortunately, though, we 

remained unharmed…at least physically. 

Finally, the train came. Shaking off the bad memories and focusing 

on the task at hand, I jumped into the wall of people exiting the train. It 




An Egyptian day 

laborer works to repair 

concrete. 

was very crowded, as usual. After riding for 45 

minutes and sitting through several unscheduled 

stops, I finally arrived at my destination. 

I walked to the main street near the train 

station where all of the day laborers gather, 

waiting for someone, anyone, to come hire 

them for the day. As I waited, I remembered 

when I applied for a job at the village school 

as a janitor. Of course they rejected me when 

they discovered who I am and instantly knew 

my background. That job could have changed 

my life, and the lives of my kids, even with the 

pennies it would have paid. 

Dreaming about a life we would never have, 

someone in a beat-up pickup truck finally 

drove up, looking for laborers. I made sure 

not to show the inside of my wrist with its tattooed 

cross this time. All it would take is just 

one look and I’d be turned away for sure. But 



I wasn’t picked anyway. The guy in the truck 

picked two other people who looked stronger. 

He had a tough job and didn’t want to waste 

his time hiring a skinny guy like me. 

I continued to wait. Hours went by and a few 

more cars and trucks came by, but I wasn’t hired 

by any of the people who came looking for workers. 

As noon came, the sun became blisteringly 

hot. It was clear that the day was shot and nobody 

else would come by looking for workers now. 

Resigned to another day without work and 

without pay, I walked sadly back to the train 

station. The train I took home wasn’t as crowded 

as the morning one at least. 

When I got back to the village, I didn’t want 

to go home because I didn’t want my wife to 

ask me for the money I still didn’t have for 

the children. Maybe the older children went to 

the local pickle factory today? After all, they 

get paid a few pennies for a day’s work. My 

wife hates it though. They always come back 

coughing from the strong fumes and acids 

used to accelerate the pickling process. 

Instead of going home, I went into a field 

and sat by the channel until sunset. When I 

finally went home, I saw my wife had saved 

some bits of yesterday’s meal for me…some 

warmed up, leftover brown beans and a piece 

of stale bread. But I was too depressed to eat, 

so I just wrapped it up, put it away and went 

to bed, hoping that tomorrow would be better. 

Maybe someone will even pick me up for 

a job. But I’m not fooling myself, because I 

know that it’s not likely. Even if I hide my 

tattoo, I think they still know somehow that 

I am a Christian, that I’m “unclean.” Still, 

I can’t give up…not while I still have life 

in me. 

31


ICC: Building & Bandaging 

Hope House was created 

to provide education and 

skills-training for Christian 

families. Here, children are 

excited about learning at an 

after-school program. 

In the face of 

diverse sources of 

persecution, ICC 

cultivates creative 

and holistic 

assistance to 

serve persecuted 

Egyptian 

Christians. 

By Amy Penn 

Persecution cripples 

Egyptian Christians 

in all areas of their 

lives. 

There are the 

headline-grabbing 

attacks against 

Christians, such as 

church bombings, 

assassinations, and 

beheadings, but the day-to-day reality is 

perhaps more dangerous. 

Christians suffer from a lack of access 

to quality education, quality healthcare, 

food security, and job stability. Men and 

women, adults and children, all suffer 

every day regardless of age or gender. 

Job discrimination keeps Christians 

unemployed or in low-wage jobs. Children 

suffer from poor educational opportunities, 

so they are not prepared to compete for 

high-skill jobs. Women are frequently discriminated 

against, so any attacks that leave 

women as widows often ensure poverty 

and struggle. Legal discrimination prevents 

communities from worshipping because of 

church licensing issues. Law enforcement 

provides minimal protection for Christians 

who are already a vulnerable population. 

ICC addresses such varying sources 

of persecution with creative and holistic 

assistance that both relieves short-term 

needs and provides long-term development 

that can help Christians escape 

the vicious cycle of poverty and endure 

surprise attacks. 

Short-Term Relief 

Frequent attacks have given us numerous 

opportunities to provide short-term relief to 

Christians such as food, housing, and small 

business assistance. After militant extremists 

executed seven Christians in El-Arish and 

scattered 355 families to four other locations, 

for example, we provided food packages 

to 26 displaced Arish families in Port 





Said that have little food. We also found 

housing and paid for several months of rent 

for displaced Arish families living in Cairo. 

Now, these families have clean, safe, and 

private housing to restart their lives. 

In 2015, we provided the families of 

the 21 Egyptian martyrs killed in Libya 

with food aid as they sought safety from 

further attacks. They are very grateful. 

One family told us, “We thank ICC so 

much for visiting us, standing with us 

in these hard times, providing us with 

food packages and praying for us. We 

appreciate that very much.” 

Sustainability 

Because many attacks in Egypt result in 

the deaths of Christian men, widows are 

left to both grieve their husbands’ deaths 

and struggle to provide for their family’s 

immediate needs. Christian women 

are particularly vulnerable to continued 

poverty because of both their religion 

and their gender. We frequently use our 

Suffering Wives and Children fund to 

jumpstart small businesses for widows. 

Nadia’s husband, for example, was 

killed in the St. Peter’s Church bombing. 

As a church guard, Nabil not only provided 

a steady income, but also housing 

on the church property. Nadia lost that 

after the bombing. In 2016, two brothers 

could not find work in Egypt because of 

their faith and traveled to Libya. On their 

way, they were kidnapped and executed 

by ISIS. Their wives had nowhere to go. 

In 2015, a Christian man was killed in 

his village, leaving behind his pregnant 

wife, Mariam, with two children. 

We met with these widows, and many 

others, to find small businesses that 

were manageable and financially lucrative 

so that the widows could support 

their families. Nadia now has a home 

goods store, the brothers’ wives sell 

products from their goats, and Mariam 

has a sewing workshop. 

For these women, they have hope 

knowing that their small businesses, “will 

help [us] to earn money to support [our] 

children. [We] appreciate that so much.” 

Hope House 

We don’t only react to persecution incidents, 

however. Through Hope House 



Top Photo: Nadia’s inventory for her home 

goods stores and a picture of her husband 

who was killed in the December church 

bombings. 

Bottom Photo: Widows can sell the products 

from goats in order to provide for their 

families. 

“We thank ICC so much 

for visiting us...providing 

us with food packages 

and praying for us. We 

appreciate that very much.” 

and our child sponsorship program, we 

prepare Christian adults and children for 

stable jobs with training, education, and 

microfinance opportunities. These are 

proven, proactive, and effective strategies 

that break the cycle of poverty. 

Hope House is an education, vocational 

training, and microfinance center 

that provides Christians with the 

tools to succeed despite constant persecution. 

Hope House has 114 students 

enrolled in after-school education centered 

around English, reading and writing 

(Arabic), and computer skills. In a 

few short years, we can take Christian 

kids from the bottom of the heap to the 

top of the employment scale. 

Since December of last year, we 

have financed 11 different microfinance 

businesses in Upper Egypt alone. 

We work with the local churches to 

pick men and women who are godly 

and have great character. We give them 

money and training to start small businesses 

to break them out of the cycle of 

generational poverty. 

One woman, Sylvia, was able to pay 

back her loan in half the time because 

of her business’ success. 

Future plans for Hope House include 

a library, medical outreach, remote 

tutoring, and agriculture assistance. 

We also build into the lives of 73 

children in Upper Egypt by providing 

education, medical care, discipleship, and 

food security. You can partner with us to 

sponsor and change the life of a child. 

Children have dreams to become doctors, 

teachers, and engineers to provide for 

their families. Without assistance, those 

dreams are impossible. 

As persecution maintains its grip in 

Egypt, there are ways to help us fight for 

Egyptian Christians. Continued success 

requires your partnership and support. 

Change the life of a child by sponsoring 

one through our Child Sponsorship 

program. Raise awareness about the 

plight of Christians with your church, 

neighbors, and family. And, most importantly, 

pray. 

If you would like to partner with us, 

please make a donation today with 

“Egypt” in the memo. 

33

IDOP 2017 

IS COMING 

I N T E R N A T I O N A L 

DAY OF PRAYER 

FOR THE PERSECUTED 

2017 

11/5 or 11/12 

Register for an IDOP Kit 

or Request a Speaker: 

ICC’S IDOP 2017 KIT 

Register today to receive ICC’s free International Day of Prayer 

(IDOP) Resource Kit! Our kit includes tools and resources for 

your church and faith community: 

• Resource Guide 

• Prayer Bulletin Insert 

• Worship and Prayer 

PowerPoints 

• Sunday School Lesson 

• Sermons 

• Social Media Tools 

• Petition 

• Video 

SCHEDULE A SPEAKER 

Interested in having ICC’s president or a persecution expert 

speak at your church? Contact us today through the web 

address below. 

info.persecution.org/idop2017 

or call 1-800-422-5441 

PASTORS TRIP 

ICC is inviting missions-minded pastors to 

come with us to Egypt to see, touch, and feel 

persecution firsthand. 

For more information, visit 

info.persecution.org/pastors-trip 

or call 1-800-422-5441 




Gifts 

for the 

Persecuted 

This Christmas season, remember 

our persecuted brothers and sisters. 

Watch for ICC’s Christmas Catalog 

next month that will highlight ways 

for you to join with us in serving 

around the world! 



35

You Can Help Today! 



SEND DONATIONS TO: 

ICC 

PO BOX 8056 

SILVER SPRING, MD 20907 

OR ONLINE AT 

WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG 

OR BY PHONE 

800-ICC-5441 

GIVING TO ICC VIA 

YOUR WILL 

Provide now for a future gift to ICC 

by including a bequest provision in 

your will or revocable trust. If you 

would like more information on giving 

to ICC in this way, please give 

us a call at 1-800-ICC-5441. 

Remember the young 

generation of Christians 

in Egypt in your prayers. 

If you would like to partner 

with us, please make 

a donation today with 

“Egypt” in the memo. 

MEMBER 

© Copyright 2017 ICC, Washington, D.C., USA. 

All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce all 

or part of this publication is granted provided 

attribution is given to ICC as the source. 

International Christian Concern (ICC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) (all donations tax-deductible). 

ICC makes every effort to honor donor wishes in regards to gifts. Occasionally, situations 

arise where a project is no longer viable. ICC will then redirect those donated funds to the 

fund most similar to the donor’s original wishes. ICC uses 7.5 percent of each restricted 

donation to carry out the mission of its segregated funds. 

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October 2017 Persecution Magazine

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