2015 Islamic State killing of Christian migrants in Libya

Killing of Eritrean and Ethiopian Christians Libya 19 April 2015 the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) and the genocide of Christians by the Islamic State Kidane Mehret Church, Ethiopian Abyssinian Church, Jerusalem, Israel 03.jpg Banner containing scenes from the video outside of the Kidane Mehret Church in Jerusalem, protesting the killings Ethiopian and Eritrean Christian migrants Decapitations, mass shooting 28–34 Islamic State – Libya Province Anti-Christian sentiment On 19 April 2015, a video was released by the Islamic State's Libyan branch depicting the shooting and beheading of two groups of Christian migrant workers held hundreds of miles apart. A group of around 12 captives were held on the coast in eastern Libya, while the other group of around 16 was held in a desert. The video threatened the killing of Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay jizya. Of the approximately 30 victims shown in the video, the majority were Ethiopian, but at least seven were from Eritrea. The Islamic State labeled the victims as members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Background The Islamic State (IS), an Islamist militant group, was established from al-Qaeda in Iraq. A self-proclaimed caliphate, the group controlled a third of the territory of Iraq and Syria by 2015.Gambrell Jon Meseret Elias 19 April 2015 Video: Islamic State kills Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://apnews.com/general-news-f8a687ead2724d3aa985d5f074226d73 26 March 2025 Associated Press en In August 2014, it led an offensive in northern Iraq that forced thousands of Christians to flee the Nineveh Plains to avoid persecution. Iraq's Yazidi minority was the target of an ethnic cleansing campaign by IS that led to thousands of deaths from mass starvation, enslavement, and massacres. The militant group destroyed a large amount of Assyrian, Shia, and Christian cultural heritage in Iraq.Shaheen Kareem 19 April 2015 Isis video purports to show massacre of two groups of Ethiopian Christians https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/19/isis-video-purports-to-show-massacre-of-two-groups-of-ethiopian-christians 26 March 2025 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 IS took advantage of political instability following the killing of Muammar Gaddafi in order to gain a foothold in Libya.19 April 2015 ISIS claims slaughter of Christians in Libya again https://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-claims-slaughter-of-christians-in-libya-again/ 26 March 2025 CBS News en-US Since then, its affiliates have claimed several attacks on foreigners in the country, including the 2015 Corinthia Hotel attack.Westall Sylvia 20 April 2015 Islamic State shoots and beheads 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya: video https://www.reuters.com/article/world/islamic-state-shoots-and-beheads-30-ethiopian-christians-in-libya-video-idUSKBN0NB0FG/ 26 March 2025 Reuters IS utilized social media in order to recruit Muslims worldwide. The group has published propaganda videos featuring the killing of captives, such as the burning of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh and the beheading of American journalist James Foley.Baker Aryn The Tragic Story of African Migrants Who Were Executed by ISIS https://time.com/migrant-dream/ 26 March 2025 Time 22 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250122043144/https://time.com/migrant-dream/ live In February 2015, IS published a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya, prompting retaliatory Egyptian airstrikes.McLaughlin Eliott C. 19 April 2015 ISIS executes more Christians in Libya, video shows https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/19/africa/libya-isis-executions-ethiopian-christians/index.html 23 March 2025 CNN en 29 May 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180529131930/https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/19/africa/libya-isis-executions-ethiopian-christians/index.html live Video The 29-minute video was titled "Until There Came to Them Clear Evidence".ar حتى تأتيهم البينةفيديو يظهر قتل تنظيم الدولة إثيوبيين بليبيا https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2015/4/19/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%8A%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86 2025-03-26 Al Jazeera Arabic ar It was released on IS-affiliated websites and social media profiles on 19 April 2015 and bore the icon of Al Furqan Media Foundation, the group's media branch. It features what was described by American magazine Time as "action movie-style editing and shock-value symbolism" akin to other propaganda videos by the militant group. The video begins with a 25-minute segment of scenes filmed in Iraq and Syria purportedly showing the history of relations between Christians and Muslims, narrated by IS cleric Sheikh Abu Malik Anas al-Nashwan,also spelled as Abu Malik Anas An-Nashwan. likely speaking from northern Syria. After examining a portrait of Jesus from the Quran, al Nashwan briefly discusses the formation of the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox denominations of Christianity. The video then shows visuals, apparently from a historical drama, of medieval Muslim fighters marching and attacking a castle, before cutting to a scene of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi climbing the minbar of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Mosul. Al-Nashwan denounces the Trinity as apostasy and declares that Christians, who he describes as infidels, must either pay jizya (a tax levied on non-Muslims by early Muslim caliphates) or be killed. He asserts that Christians from Raqqa, Syria, had refused to convert to Islam but have instead paid jizya, and the video shows interviews of Christians in territory under the militia's control, including Aleppo and Raqqa, who say that they live in safety.Kirkpatrick David D. 19 April 2015 ISIS Video Appears to Show Executions of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/20/world/middleeast/isis-video-purports-to-show-killing-of-ethiopian-christians.html 26 March 2025 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 6 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180706104013/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/20/world/middleeast/isis-video-purports-to-show-killing-of-ethiopian-christians.html live Al-Nashwan then justifies the expulsion of Iraqi Christians as a form of mercy, claiming that they refused to pay jizya or negotiate with IS representatives. The video cuts to footage of IS fighters destroying churches, gravestones, and other Christian symbols, including crosses and portraits of Mary, mother of Jesus,Saul Heather 21 April 2015 Ethiopian Christians killed by Isis were migrants in search of a better life in Europe https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/middle-east/ethiopian-christians-beheaded-and-shot-by-isis-were-migrants-hoping-to-reach-uk-and-europe-10191409.html 26 March 2025 The Independent en before proceeding to footage of the captives, who are held in two separate groups hundreds of miles apart. The first group, held by an IS affiliate named Barqa Province in eastern Libya, contains around a dozen men in orange jumpsuits on the coast. The second group of around 16 prisoners dressed in black, held in the desert by a southern Libya affiliate named Fazzan Province, is shown kneeling in front of 16 gunmen holding rifles to their heads. A caption labels the captives as "followers of the cross from the enemy Ethiopian Church".ar رعايا الصليب من أتباع الكنيسة الإثيوبية المحاربة2015-04-20 إثيوبيا تؤكد مقتل 30 من مواطنيها ظهروا في فيديو منسوب لتنظيم الدولة https://www.bbc.com/arabic/middleeast/2015/04/150420_ethipia_is_confirmation_killings 2025-03-24 BBC News عربي ar19 April 2015 IS group video purports to show killing of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.france24.com/en/20150419-libya-IS-video-executions-ethiopians-christians 26 March 2025 France 24 en One of the gunmen, who is masked and dressed in black,Loveluck Louisa 20 April 2015 Islamic State murders 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/11548360/Islamic-State-murders-30-Ethiopian-Christians-in-Libya.html 26 March 2025 The Daily Telegraph en 6 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241206025104/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/11548360/Islamic-State-murders-30-Ethiopian-Christians-in-Libya.html live points his pistol at the camera and states: All praise be to Allah, the Lord and cherisher of the world and may peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Mohammed. To the nation of the cross, we are back again on the sands, where the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, have stepped on before, telling you: Muslim blood that was shed under the hands of your religion is not cheap. In fact, their blood is the purest blood because there is a nation behind them [which] inherits revenge. And we swear to Allah: the one who disgraced you by our hands, you will not have safety, even in your dreams, until you embrace Islam. The gunman quotes Muhammad, stating that the Prophet would protect people who "perform prayer and pay alms" unless commanded otherwise by Islam, before claiming that IS' fight was "between faith and blasphemy, between truth and falsehood", and would continue until the elimination of "polytheism" and complete submission to Allah. The video then alternates between footage of captives in the first group being individually beheaded, having their blood drained into the Mediterranean Sea, and prisoners in the second group being shot in the head at point-blank range.King Laura 19 April 2015 Islamic State video purportedly shows killing of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.pressherald.com/2015/04/19/islamic-state-video-purports-to-show-killing-of-ethiopians-in-libya/ 26 March 2025 Portland Press Herald 8 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043335/http://www.pressherald.com/2015/04/19/islamic-state-video-purports-to-show-killing-of-ethiopians-in-libya/ live The video concludes with al-Nashwan saying: We tell Christians everywhere that the Islamic State will spread, God willing. It will reach you even if you are in fortresses. Those who embrace Islam or jizya will be safe. But those who refuse ... will have nothing from us but the edge of the sword. The men will be killed, the women and children enslaved, and the money seized. That is Allah and the prophet's judgment. Victims The victims were Christian migrant workers likely attempting to immigrate to Europe.22 April 2015 Ethiopian mass protest against IS killings in Libya https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32423688.amp 26 March 2025 BBC News en-gb According to the Ethiopian government, 30 of the dead were its citizens.Philp Catherine 21 April 2015 Christians killed by Isis 'on way to Europe' https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/christians-killed-by-isis-on-way-to-europe-0ht5p5z5k78?region=global 26 March 2025 The Sunday Times en Only two of the men were named—identified as Eyasu Yikunoamlak and Balcha Belete by relatives.Maasho Aaron 21 April 2015 Ethiopians struggle to come to terms with beheadings of compatriots in Libya https://www.reuters.com/article/world/ethiopians-struggle-to-come-to-terms-with-beheadings-of-compatriots-in-libya-idUSKBN0NC23Q/ 26 March 2025 Reuters They hailed from Kirkos and entered Libya through Sudan, hoping to take a boat to Italy before reaching the United Kingdom. At least seven victims were Eritrean, three of whom were asylum seekers deported from Israel in 2014, according to the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants.Gross Judah Ari 21 April 2015 NGO: 3 killed by IS in Libya had sought asylum in Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/ngo-3-killed-in-is-video-were-asylum-seekers/ 26 March 2025 The Times of Israel en-US An anonymous blogger told Radio France Internationale that eight victims were Ethiopian-born Eritreans.2015-04-20 Ethiopians, Eritreans shocked by Islamic State murders https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20150420-ethiopians-eritreans-shocked-islamic-state-murders 2025-03-23 Radio France Internationale en 2023-04-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20230411154535/https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20150420-ethiopians-eritreans-shocked-islamic-state-murders live One of the three Eritrean asylum seekers was identified as a former Eritrean soldier Tesfai Kidane.Davison John 2015-04-28 Migrants in Israel shaken by killing of brethren by IS https://www.timesofisrael.com/migrants-in-israel-shaken-by-killing-of-brethren-by-is/ 2026-04-01 The Times of Israel en-US 0040-7909 On 24 December 2018, the Libyan Criminal Investigation Department announced that it discovered a mass grave containing the remains of 34 men executed in the video, using information obtained from interrogations of detained IS militants. The mass grave was apparently situated on a farm in Sirte, according to drone photos. After being exhumed, the bodies were set to be repatriated to Ethiopia.24 December 2018 Libyan authorities say they recover 34 bodies from IS mass grave https://www.reuters.com/article/world/libyan-authorities-say-they-recover-34-bodies-from-islamic-state-mass-grave-idUSKCN1ON0SY/ 26 March 2025 Reuters Reactions Ethiopia Before the victims were identified as Ethiopian citizens, government spokesperson Redwan Hussien condemned the executions, "whether [the victims] are Ethiopians or not".20 April 2015 ISIL claims massacre of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/4/20/isil-claims-massacre-of-ethiopian-christians-in-libya 26 March 2025 Al Jazeera en After their citizenship was confirmed, the government released a statement reading "The Ethiopian government is deeply saddened by the barbarous act committed against our innocent nationals",20 April 2015 Ethiopia to mourn citizens killed in Libya 'IS' video https://www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-confirms-its-citizens-killed-in-libya-islamic-state-video/a-18394469 26 March 2025 Deutsche Welle en and a national mourning period of three days was declared starting on 22 April, during which flags were flown at half-mast.20 April 2015 Ethiopia Declares 3 Days of Mourning for Citizens Killed by IS https://www.voanews.com/a/ap-ethiopia-has-three-days-of-mourning-for-islamic-state-killings/2726779.html 26 March 2025 Voice of America en The Ethiopian Catholic Church held a Mass for the victims, and several religious figures condemned the killings, including Archbishop of Addis Ababa Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Abune Mathias, and President of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council Mohammed Amin.23 April 2015 Mass for Ethiopian migrants killed in Libya https://www.caritas.org/2015/04/mass-for-ethiopia-migrants-killed-in-libyia/ 26 March 2025 Caritas Internationalis en-US The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church passed a decision to annually commemorate the victims and designate them as "Ethiopian Martyrs in the land of Egypt".6 May 2015 Ethiopia : Victims of ISIS named Martyrs by the Ethiopian church https://borkena.com/2015/05/06/ethiopia-victims-of-isis-named-martyrs-by-the-ethiopian-church/ 26 March 2025 Borkena en-US 12 April 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240412182618/https://borkena.com/2015/05/06/ethiopia-victims-of-isis-named-martyrs-by-the-ethiopian-church/ live On 22 April, around 100,000 demonstrators participated in a government-led protest against the killings in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who spoke at the rally, said: "This week's cruel act which was committed against our citizens in Libya not only gives a glimpse into terrorism, but also shows the Satanic acts and objectives of those who committed the act", while also urging his citizens to resist "home-grown extremism" and warning against illegal migration through the Sahara. During the rally, anti-government protesters threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas. Over 100 people were detained, and some demonstrators were hospitalized.22 April 2015 Scuffles break out at Ethiopian anti-IS rally https://www.dw.com/en/scuffles-break-out-at-ethiopian-anti-is-rally/a-18399598 26 March 2025 Deutsche Welle enVan der Wolf Martin 22 April 2015 Ethiopians Mourn Libya Killings at Rally, Scuffles Erupt https://www.voanews.com/a/ethiopians-mourn-libya-killings-at-rally/2729877.html 26 March 2025 Voice of America International Libyan foreign minister Mohammed al-Dairi said that he was "appalled" by the "barbaric killing" and requested assistance from the international community in his country’s fight against terrorism.20 April 2015 After second incident of ISIS murdering Christians in Libya, foreign minister 'appalled' https://www.jpost.com/christian-news/after-second-incident-of-isis-murdering-christians-in-libya-foreign-minister-appalled-398665 26 March 2025 The Jerusalem Post en 24 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240124013505/https://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/After-second-incident-of-ISIS-murdering-Christians-in-Libya-foreign-minister-appalled-398665 live A White House spokeswoman condemned the killings, saying, "That these terrorists killed these men solely because of their faith lays bare the terrorists' vicious senseless brutality", and also urged for a political settlement in Libya and a rejection of terrorism.20 April 2015 White House Condemns IS Massacre of Ethiopian Christians https://www.voanews.com/a/is-video-purports-to-show-ethiopians-killed-in-libya/2725578.html/ 26 March 2025 Voice of America French President François Hollande expressed outrage over the killings and called for a national peace deal to restore stability in Libya. Statements were also issued by the foreign ministries of Algeria,21 April 2015 Algeria condemns assassination of Ethiopians in Libya https://borkena.com/2015/04/21/algeria-condemns-assassination-of-ethiopians-in-libya/ 26 March 2025 Borkena en-US 1 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240301085414/https://borkena.com/2015/04/21/algeria-condemns-assassination-of-ethiopians-in-libya/ live the Czech Republic,Statement of the MFA on the Murder of Ethiopian Nationals in Libya https://mzv.gov.cz/jnp/en/issues_and_press/archive/statements/x2015/x2015_04_21_statement_of_the_mfa_on_the_murder_of.html 26 March 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic) en Greece,22 April 2015 Foreign Ministry announcement regarding the execution of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-ministry-announcement-regarding-the-execution-of-ethiopian-christians-in-libya/ 26 March 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece) Japan,23 April 2015 Statement by Foreign Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura on the murder of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_000726.html 26 March 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) Russia,21 April 2015 Comment by the Information and Press Department on ISIS's execution of Ethiopian Christians in Libya https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1507639/ 26 March 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia) Spain,20 April 2015 Spain condemns execution of 28 Ethiopian Christians by IS in Libya https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2015/04/20/spain-condemns-execution-of-28-ethiopian-christians-by-is-in-libya/ 26 March 2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune en-US and Turkey.20 April 2015 No: 123, 20 April 2015, Press Release regarding the killings carried out by DEASH in Libya https://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-123_-20-april-2015_-press-release-regarding-the-killings-carried-out-by-deash-in-libya.en.mfa 26 March 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey) 4 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150704015549/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-123_-20-april-2015_-press-release-regarding-the-killings-carried-out-by-deash-in-libya.en.mfa live Pope Francis denounced the "continuing martyrdom" of Christians by IS and expressed sadness and distress over the killings in a message to Abune Mathias.21 April 2015 Pope Francis condemns Isis killings of Ethiopian Christians https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/21/pope-francis-condemns-isis-killings-of-ethiopian-christians?CMP=share_btn_gp 26 March 2025 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 The African Union, European Union,20 April 2015 Ethiopia mourns victims of Islamic State killings https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32385645.amp 26 March 2025 BBC News en-gb and United Nations also released statements condemning the killings.Security Council Press Statement on Murder of Over 30 Ethiopian Christians : Meetings Coverage and Press Releases https://press.un.org/en/2015/sc11867.doc.htm 26 March 2025 press.un.org See also Islamic State beheadings Notes References Category:21st-century mass murders in Libya Category:2015 mass shootings in Africa Category:2015 murders in Libya Category:Anti-Christian sentiment in Africa Category:April 2015 in Libya Category:April 2015 crimes in Africa Category:Beheading videos Category:Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Category:Ethiopian people murdered abroad Category:Islamic State terrorist incidents in Libya Category:Killing of captives by the Islamic State Category:2015 mass murders Category:Massacres in Libya Category:Massacres of Christians committed by the Islamic State Category:Oriental Orthodoxy in Libya Category:People beheaded by the Islamic State Category:Terrorist incidents in Africa in 2015 Category:Terrorist incidents against Christians in the 2010s Category:Massacres of Christians in the 2010s Category:Libyan Crisis Category:Military operations of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) Category:Aftermath of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) Category:Aftermath of the Libyan civil war (2014) Category:Civil wars in Libya