A 20-year-old Coptic Christian from Egypt has reportedly been killed by Islamic State (IS) militants in Libya after refusing to renounce his faith.

Milad Malak, who served as a church deacon in the Egyptian village of Sebarbay, had travelled to Libya in search of work, like many young Egyptians facing economic hardship.

The persecution watchdog Open Doors said he made the trip with two Muslim friends from his village, but during their time in Libya, they were among a group of Egyptian workers reportedly kidnapped by IS militants in the city of Zliten.

Milad’s friends, who were subsequently released, reported that when the militants discovered he was the only Christian in the group, they subjected him to intense pressure to abandon Christianity and convert to Islam. They said this happened over several days and included torture and threats against his life.

Despite unrelenting pressure, the friends say Milad refused every demand to renounce his faith, and it’s understood the militants killed him.

Open Doors said his death strongly echoes what happened to 20 Coptic Christians and one Ghanaian in 2015. Taken to a beach in Libya, they were asked to renounce their faith one final time, but when they refused, they were beheaded. Today, the extraordinary courage of the 21 martyrs continues to inspire countless people worldwide.

Open Doors is asking for prayers for Milad’s loved ones, that “as they grieve his loss, like the 21 martyrs, his death will ‘bear much fruit’ (John 12:24)”.