After ISIS had released a video showing the beheading of the Copts that were kidnapped in Libya, many people denounced the brutality of the extremist group. However, it should be known that the Coptic Church has presented too many martyrs across the history. Coptic years are counted from AD 284, the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt. Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation A.M. (for Anno Martyrum or "Year of the Martyrs"). The A.M. abbreviation is also used for the unrelated Jewish year (Anno Mundi).

I know that many people all over the world are interested in the Egyptian history and antiquities. However, most of them don’t even know that Christians represent 10 - 15% of the Egyptian population. Therefore, they don’t know to what extent the Copts are being prosecuted in their home country, where they are pretty much ranked as second degree citizens and are discriminated against through writing the religion in the identification card.

Public transportation in Egypt is a good place to chat with people you don’t know, learn more about their lives, and even to fight with them. Couple of days ago, I took the bus. Suddenly, I heard some people arguing about losing Sinai for the