Published on June 27, 2024, 1:36 am

Ten years following their tragic martyrdom, a film recounting the challenging journey of the 21 Coptic Christians who fell victim to ISIS terrorists in Libya in 2015 is projected for release in 2025. The haunting event which unfolded as these Christian martyrs were ritualistically decapitated was caught on camera and broadcasted globally. Their end was neither swift nor merciful, yet their faith and resilience remained unshaken.

Egyptian filmmaker Raouf Zaki has been conducting extensive research for this project, interviewing Libyan officials, investigators, and family members of the martyrs in Egypt – all aimed at giving an accurate narrative of the event. So deep was their belief in life after death that even when faced with brutal execution, their serenity stayed unwavered – a profound truth that Zaki intends to capture in his upcoming film ‘Son of the 11th Hour’.

The movie portrays them as modern-day martyrs who were resolute in their Christian belief despite gruesome torture and attempts at religious conversion by extremists. A stark reminder resonating Christ’s warning about those who commit atrocities thinking they serve God. Appreciating this film invites us to rethink our understanding of faith, sacrifice, and man’s capacity for resilience amidst immense adversity.

Interestingly among the group was a man from Ghana; while not much information is available about him initially, he joined these fearless Christian companions on observing their uncompromising stance. After being left unclaimed for a year when an imprisoned ISIS terrorist led authorities to discover the remains of these brave men nearly two years later; he finally received his rest beside his co-martyrs courtesy of The Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt recognizing him as an “honorary Copt”.

Despite financial struggles threatening its completion – only 25% filming has been completed till now due to lack funding-Zaki remains committed to bringing forward this heartbreaking-yet-inspiring story far and wide through ‘Son of the 11th Hour’. He hopes remaining $300,000 will come from donations or investments that will allow him to etch this testament of faith and resilience onto the big screen.

The proposed movie aims to provide a Christian worldview perspective on the role that unwavering faith can play in confronting trials, making it an essential part of trusted news sources focused on such events. The film is also expected to provide real news insights into the challenges faced by Coptic Christians in the context of global terrorism. In turn, followers can engage with and appreciate these modern-day martyrs’ unique narrative, thereby ensuring its widespread reach and embracing true storytelling’s power.