Libyan Prime Minister Begs for Western Help to Fight ISIS

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Feb 17, 2015

Libyan Prime Minister Begs for Western Help to Fight ISIS

The Libyan prime minister has appealed to western nations for help fighting ISIS in the aftermath of a mass beheading of 21 Coptic Christians on Sunday (Feb. 15). 

Charisma News reports that the murdered Christians were Egyptians who had been captured by ISIS in Libya. Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni said he is concerned that the militants will continued to wreak havoc in the area and continue into Europe. 

"We have absolutely confirmed information that al Qaeda and IS are in Tripoli and....near Ben Jawad," Thinni said. "I ask world powers stand by Libya and launch military strikes against these groups," he said. "This threat will move to European countries, especially Italy." 

At the same time, religious and world leaders have responded to the death of the Christians by showing support online through the hashtag #CopticLivesMatter. Some people have changed their profile photos to an image of the number 21 to symbolize the 21 Egyptian Christians who lost their lives. Other have shared a list of the names of the Christians in their memories. 

The Huffington Post reports that Pope Francis said that the beheading of Coptic Christians should not go ignored. 

“The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out be heard. It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians!” Francis said. 

Publication date: February 17, 2015



Libyan Prime Minister Begs for Western Help to Fight ISIS