Coptic Christian Refused to Deny Jesus Before ISIS Ruthlessly Killed Him

An Egyptian Christian sits on a bench near a blood stain on a wall at the scene
following a bombing inside Cairo's Coptic cathedral in Egypt December 11, 2016.

By Samuel Smith

Christian Post

A Coptic Christian father of two who was on a "kill list" and tracked for days by Islamic State militants in Sinai refused to renounce his faith in Christ when given a chance to "save" himself before being executed, his wife said.

The British news outlet The Sunday Times reports that the widow of 58-year-old Copt Bahgat Zakhar, one of eight Christians killed in the coastal town of Al Arish in just a three-week span in February, detailed the moment her husband met his fate.

Zakhar, who was a veterinary surgeon, was reportedly named on a jihadi "kill list" that was published online. As reported, jihadis have anonymously posted "kill lists" online that feature churches and prominent Christians across Egypt to target.

After days of trying to track down Zakhar, two militants with guns finally cornered him.

Zakhar's widow, Fawzia, said in her interview with the Times that an eyewitness explained that when the militants arrived, Zakhar tried to shake their hands. They quickly forced him onto a concrete terrace, forced him to his knees and demanded that he convert to Islam.

"Repent, infidel. Convert and save yourself," the witness recalled one of the jihadis saying. 

According to the witness, Zakhar simply shook his head in refusal. The militants then responded by fatally shooting him and leaving him dead on the floor.

"They didn't even run," Fawzia Zakhar said.

Much like the hundreds of Christian families who have fled from their homes in the Northern Sinai region in recent months because of the increased persecution at the hands of radical extremists, Zakhar's family is no different.

Fawzia Zakhar told The Times that she and her children have fled to another town.

Christian Post article continues

Christian Man Dies After Being Forced To Spend Night In Cold Pond For Refusing To Deny Christ

Ruth Gledhill
Christianity Today

A Christian man in India has died after he and his wife were forced to spend the night in a cold pond for refusing to deny Christ.

Bartu Urawn, 50, from Jharkhand state, survived the night, but has now died from illness which came on afterward.

Other villagers in Kubuaa, Palamu disrtrict were upset that he and his wife had deserted their indigenous faith.

They were made to spend the 17 hours overnight in the pond as punishment with their hands tied, their son Beneswar Urawn told Morning Star News.

After Bartu emerged, he became ill and suffered two bouts of paralysis due to nerve damage.

Beneswar Urawn said: 

'All throughout the night, they were in the cold water shivering, and I along with 15-20 villagers were witness to the brutality. The villagers kept asking my father if he is ready to forsake Christ and return to the Sarna fold."

He reiterated every time, "I will not deny Christ … I will continue to believe till my last breath."

Christian Today story continues 

Blogger's note: Christians in America live relatively secure and comfortable lives. Thousands of our Christian brothers and sisters live in countries where they face death simply for being a Christian. 

How many American Christians, who claim to love Jesus, would be willing to refuse to deny Christ, even in the face of certain death? If the church in America continues its apathy and indifference to the plight of our brothers and sisters, what persecution awaits us if we continue to ignore this genocide.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40