If a picture about the testing and struggles of the 21 Coptic Christians who were systematically decapitated by ISIS jihadists in Libya in 2015, a decade after their death, is scheduled to be released in 2025.
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Movie video below.
The legendary time when the 21 people in orange jumpsuits were killed was captured on video and distributed throughout the world. The Christian saints appeared to be discreetly praying as their heirs began to dismember them while they were kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. As their heart mingled with the waters of the Mediterranean, their murders were neither clear nor fast.
Related:  ,’ I Have Learned to Cut Throats ‘: The Specter of ISIS Lives on in Western Countries
I recently had a conversation with Egyptian filmmaker Raouf Zaki, who detailed his considerable research for his story, including visiting the saints ‘ households in Egypt and interviewing Libyan authorities and researchers.
Why do this job? Zaki told me:
Brother of the 11th Hour was a profoundly moving book because of the mercy with which the saints dealt with their last moments. They did not beg or fall, rather, they embraced their death with a peace that seemed to overcome their surroundings. Their actions appeared to resound with the bible idea that “faith is the desire in things unknown” as they knelt and gazed up at the sky. The end of their earthly life, according to them, was a passage that was a culmination of a legacy that had roots deep within the crib of civilization, where early Christians were known as the” Blue Bone” and where idea in life after death has roots.
Through this picture, I hope to defend the faith of our people. By witnessing like unwavering beliefs, we get perspective on our own trials, which, in comparison, might therefore appear moment and tolerable. For profound truths can be etched into our thoughts through movies as lasting reminders of endurance and hope.
Son of the 11th Hour‘s portrayal of its characters as modern-day martyrs ( a term frequently associated with ancient Roman persecutions ) should expand its appeal to contemporary audiences. The movie explores the dark of extremism, examining the dreadful misperception that some people believe terrorist acts are God’s sacrifice. This is a stark warning of Christ’s notice that there will be those who “kill you and assume they are offering service to God.”
Unfortunately, this film is an invitation to see, echo, and possibly adjust our understanding of faith, compromise, and the human capacity for resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.
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Most of the 21 people, according to Zaki, were “proud, enthusiastic men of plain but sturdy trust” who all resided in the same poor village in Egypt, which is where the Holy Family hid for three times when Jesus was a young child. The majority of the people were in their 20s or early 30s, the oldest children of their respective communities. That spelled out to their families, “because that’s what you do, you take care of your family when you’re the older brother, and many people can rely on you” ( p. 11 ).
Due to a lack of work, around 2013, they left their loved ones — families, younger ladies, kids, etc. — to bring wealth home from work in Libya. Their people next saw them around Christmas of 2014, when they last saw them. The men’s families agreed to Chat with Zaki to observe their environment, which are small, light rooms with religious symbols and crosses on the walls. They would frequently discuss how thrilled they were about returning home to Egypt for the vacation.
Finally, maybe before Christmas, ISIS abducted them and threw them into an abandoned underground jail. Zaki says they spent 40 times in that prison, being tortured. First, the jihadists offered to discharge them for a payment.
ISIS gave them a second choice when it became apparent that they had already sent whatever funds they had to their Egyptian people: they could abandon Christ as the Son of God, declare the shahada, and convert to Islam. When they firmly refused this, also, the jihadists “exposed them to a lot of slaughters”, Zaki says— for instance, by tying their fingers behind their flanks and hanging them on doors all day.
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When everything else failed, ISIS decided to carry out their plan and record the event on video as a recruiting tool to draw more like-minded Islam to the expanding” caliphate.”
But, Zaki said this “backfired” and more worked to God’s greater splendor:
Instead of instilling concern, the video showcased the extraordinary fortitude and composure of the victims, which both affirmed people ‘ faith and won widespread respect. The people of the saints — women, father, mother, brothers, and sisters — appeared on television, forgiving their prisoners and praying for them. People of all faiths were both perplexed and inspired by this deep act of forgiveness, which transformed a tale of a terror into one of trust and endurance.
The mystical and heartfelt tale of the only non-Cocob saint, a black man from Ghana, is of particular interest. Although very little is known about him ( he may even have been a Muslim at the time ) Zaki discovered that while he was imprisoned alongside them, he was so inspired by the Copts ‘ defiance that he eventually converted and joined theirs. The result executioner therefore decided to make the Ghanaian his private victim.
When an imprisoned ISIS terrorist’s revelation led to the , identification of the men’s bones nearly two years after, Egypt claimed its 20 children, but no one from Ghana came to say the mysterious saint’s remains. They remained there for a year until the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt recognized them and placed them where the other martyrs were buried, making him an “honorary Copt.”
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Zaki claimed that because of his “profound mystery” that” captivated my imagination,” he had the opportunity to write the screenplay through this Ghanaian man’s eyes.
The forgiveness the martyrs ‘ families offered the murderers was one of the most amazing things Zaki saw while filming Son of the 11th Hour. Theirs, he said, is” a faith beyond comprehension … The amount of forgiveness they have in their hearts is unbelievable”.
But Zaki has also experienced many setbacks — “enemy oppression” and” spiritual battles” as he called them — in his effort to make this film a reality. The trailer for the movie shows some of the scenes already shot. However, Zaki, who is working with a small budget, said he would be unable to turn this desperately needed tale of modern-day martyrdom into a feature film for widespread viewing. Without proper funding. As of now, only 25 % of filming has been completed. He needs an additional$ 300, 000 in donations. Zaki said he is also offering investing opportunities with a 50/50 profit- sharing margin for larger donations ( contact him directly at]email , protected ] ). To learn more about the film and watch some scenes, click here.  ,
