All the same, many martyrs were asking for it (8)
I believe the answer is:
equality
'martyrs were asking for it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'all the same many' is the wordplay.
'all the same' becomes 'equal' (I've seen this in another clue).
'many' becomes 'ity' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'equal'+'ity'='EQUALITY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for equality that I've seen before include "Fairness - sameness" , "No discrimination" , "level playing field" , "State of being identical" , "State of being on the same level" .)