Libya
Abstract
The Coptic church in Libya traces its heritage to Saint Mark the Apostle. The 16th-century Spanish occupation brought the Knights of Saint John from Malta to Tripoli, but all Christians were expelled by the Ottomans in 1551. Later, Italian occupation from 1911-1943 brought around 200,000 Italians and their Catholic faith to Libya. More recently, thousands of Christian expatriates have also entered the country to work in the oil industry, including many Coptic Orthodox Christians from Egypt. They have been persecuted by militant Islamist groups since the 2011 revolution, including the publicized beheading of 21 Coptic Christians by ISIL in 2015.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Middle East Politics and Society
Christian Theology and Mission
Religious Freedom and Discrimination
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Edinburgh University Press eBooks
- Pages
- 52–55
- Publication date
- 22 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter