Who Are the Copts?

– Copts are followers of the Christian Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, which traces its founding to Saint Mark, about 12 years after the death of Christ.

– Copts make up about 10 percent of the Egyptian population of 80 million.

– More than 1 million Copts practice their religion around the world, including in the United States, Australia, Brazil and in Europe and Africa.

– Copts have been targets of violence in Egypt, beginning with the execution of Saint Mark in 68 A.D. through the 2011 bombing of a Coptic Church in Alexandria.

– Famous Copts include former United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and Egyptian-born heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub.