Photo: VOMC
Milad Malak was a deacon at his church in northern Egypt. In September, he and two Muslim friends travelled to Libya seeking work to support their families. While there, they stayed with other Egyptian migrant workers. On the morning of October 4th, the workers were kidnapped by men allegedly associated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State. The families of all the abducted workers paid the demanded ransom. Consequently, Milad's friends were eventually released and returned to Egypt where they received medical treatment. Unfortunately, despite the ransom funds having been provided on his behalf, Milad was forced to remain in captivity.
According to his friends, the captors demanded that the Christian man renounce his faith and instead embrace Islam. Despite enduring torture, he refused. Milad's sister, Madonna, was later informed of a statement he had made to the persecutors: "Even if you cut me into pieces, I would never renounce my faith." When the militants realized that their unyielding hostage was not willing to abandon his Christian faith, they killed him.
Milad's family, who are residents of Egypt, appealed to the Egyptian government for assistance in returning his body home. Finally, on October 28th, family and friends were able to gather and honour the life of the Christian young man. "He was faithful to Christ till his last breath," stated a family friend. Considering that believers in this North African nation often face enormous pressures to abandon their faith, Libya has been ranked as the ninth most dangerous country in the world for followers of Jesus. More information concerning Christian persecution in Libya, including previously published Persecution & Prayer Alert reports, are available at our country profile.
- Pray that God will greatly comfort Milad's family and friends, filling them with peace, strength and the assurance that this young man – who remained faithful to Christ until the very end – has gone on heavenward to receive the Lord's promised eternal rewards.
- May Milad's unwavering faith and courageous Christian witness touch the hearts of his Muslim friends and many others in need of salvation (including the perpetrators of his martyrdom), as they themselves seek the truth of the Gospel and thus experience the transformative power of Jesus Christ.
- Prayerfully uphold surviving believers throughout Libya who are faithfully following Christ despite persecution, asking the Lord to provide them protection, encouragement and sustaining grace.
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