    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Pages H861-H862]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                          MEANING OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

      (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given permission to address the House for
    1

    [[Page H862]]

    minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
      Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 21 Christian men who
    were murdered for their faith.
      In 2015, ISIS dragged them onto a Libyan beach, forced them to kneel,
    and beheaded them on video. In that horrific moment, they did not show
    fear. They showed faith.
      Mr. Speaker, 20 of these men were Coptic Christians from Egypt just
    trying to earn a living for their families. The 21st man, Matthew, who
    was from Ghana, wasn't even Coptic by birth. ISIS gave him a choice to
    walk away or die. He chose to stand with his brothers, knowing exactly
    what it would cost him. He knew it was better to die free than to live
    under tyranny.
      That is faith, Mr. Speaker. That is true freedom. For 45 days, ISIS
    beat, starved, and tortured these men. They were offered food and money
    if they would just deny Christ, but they never did. Instead, as the
    terrorists raised their blades, their last word was the name of Jesus.
      I remember my father had a Bible verse on his mirror that said if you
    deny me before man, I will deny you before the gates of Heaven. They
    did not deny their faith.
      This month marks 10 years since their deaths. ISIS thought they were
    making a statement of fear. Instead, they showed the world what
    unshakeable faith looks like.
      The Coptic and Catholic churches have honored these men as martyrs,
    as they should. Just as these men refused to abandon their faith, their
    faith has never abandoned them. One of the martyrs' widows said: Their
    blood mixed together, and as a result, we the widows are united.
      These men weren't just believers. They were immovable. Their story
    should remind every American what real religious freedom means. May we
    never forget them.

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