A project to build a road around Fayum, Egypt, crosses the territory around the Coptic monastery of St. Macarius and threatens to destroy the ancient archaeological site around a church dating from the 4th century, or some 300 years before Islam was born and invaded Coptic Egypt.

In response, the monastery's monks have objected with passive resistance — laying their bodies before the path of the bulldozers, which arrived with shouts of "Allahu Akbar" from the company drivers and workers (pictures above and below).

Previously the monks had submitted alternative plans that would allow for a road but also preserve Egypt's ancient Christian site but authorities rejected them.

Coptic Solidarity

On February 23, another Coptic Christian man was fatally shot in al-‘Arish, Sinai, by members of the Islamic terrorist group, Ansar Bait al-Maqdis.

Hani, the Coptic man, was in his shop when three terrorists drove by and opened fire on him; with bullets lodged in his head he immediately died.

Earlier, on January 31, masked gunmen stormed the home of another Coptic Christian man residing in al-'Arish. After robbing him and his family at gunpoint, they shot him several times in the head, instantly killing him. According to the slain man’s wife, her husband was murdered “only because he was a Copt [i.e., Christian].”