A martyr is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party
. The term may also refer to anyone who sacrifices their life or something of great value for the sake of a principle
. In a more general sense, it can also be used to describe a person who sacrifices something of great value, especially life itself, for the sake of a principle
. This can include individuals who are killed for a political cause or while performing relief or health care work
