This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7349142.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Man shot 'for Christian beliefs' | Man shot 'for Christian beliefs' |
(10 minutes later) | |
A man killed by Islamist fighters in Somalia was shot because he had converted from Islam to Christianity, his widow has claimed. | |
Daud Hassan Ali, 64, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, and three others were found dead at the school his charity had built in Beledweyne on Monday. | Daud Hassan Ali, 64, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, and three others were found dead at the school his charity had built in Beledweyne on Monday. |
He had left Somalia in 1967 and became a Christian after meeting missionaries. | He had left Somalia in 1967 and became a Christian after meeting missionaries. |
Margaret Ali said she was "certain he was killed because he was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity". | Margaret Ali said she was "certain he was killed because he was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity". |
Mrs Ali, 64, said that some Islamists "believe it is ok to kill any man who was born into Islam and left the faith". | Mrs Ali, 64, said that some Islamists "believe it is ok to kill any man who was born into Islam and left the faith". |
'Life-long dream' | 'Life-long dream' |
She added her husband knew it was a risk going back to Somalia as a Christian but said he was there to teach not convert others to his faith. | She added her husband knew it was a risk going back to Somalia as a Christian but said he was there to teach not convert others to his faith. |
She said: "He was a teacher, he never made any attempt to convert anyone to Christianity, and only practised his faith in private. | She said: "He was a teacher, he never made any attempt to convert anyone to Christianity, and only practised his faith in private. |
"Most people didn't give tuppence about him being an apostate (someone who has renounced the religion of their birth), but some Muslims interpret the Koran differently. | "Most people didn't give tuppence about him being an apostate (someone who has renounced the religion of their birth), but some Muslims interpret the Koran differently. |
"I just hope they died quickly and didn't suffer too much. But I hear their bodies are riddled with bullet holes." | "I just hope they died quickly and didn't suffer too much. But I hear their bodies are riddled with bullet holes." |
Her husband had left the country of his birth in 1967 and worked across the Middle East and Europe before studying in the UK and working as a primary and secondary school teacher. | Her husband had left the country of his birth in 1967 and worked across the Middle East and Europe before studying in the UK and working as a primary and secondary school teacher. |
He eventually settled in Birmingham where he worked for the city council as an education psychologist before retiring in 2004. | He eventually settled in Birmingham where he worked for the city council as an education psychologist before retiring in 2004. |
Mrs Ali said it had been her husband's "life-long dream" to go back to Somalia and set up a school to "help his people". | Mrs Ali said it had been her husband's "life-long dream" to go back to Somalia and set up a school to "help his people". |
She said they decided to set up the Hiran Community Education Project charity after discovering there were about 20,000 children in central Somalia getting no education. | She said they decided to set up the Hiran Community Education Project charity after discovering there were about 20,000 children in central Somalia getting no education. |
'Big dreams' | 'Big dreams' |
The school was only completed one month ago. | The school was only completed one month ago. |
The charity's treasurer, Hilary Gita-Chiles, earlier paid tribute to Mr Ali as a "truly remarkable man" who had "big dreams". | The charity's treasurer, Hilary Gita-Chiles, earlier paid tribute to Mr Ali as a "truly remarkable man" who had "big dreams". |
She said: "Sometimes these (projects) seemed to be unattainable, but he always did manage to achieve them. | She said: "Sometimes these (projects) seemed to be unattainable, but he always did manage to achieve them. |
The other bodies found at the Hakab Private English School were 32-year-old Rehana Ahmed and two Kenyan teachers. | The other bodies found at the Hakab Private English School were 32-year-old Rehana Ahmed and two Kenyan teachers. |
The Islamist al-Shabab Movement, the armed youth-wing of the Council of Islamic Courts movement, has admitted taking the town. | The Islamist al-Shabab Movement, the armed youth-wing of the Council of Islamic Courts movement, has admitted taking the town. |
But a spokesman said: "We heard that the foreigners were killed but we do not claim responsibility." | But a spokesman said: "We heard that the foreigners were killed but we do not claim responsibility." |
British officials in Kenya and staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are investigating. | British officials in Kenya and staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are investigating. |