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Man shot 'for Christian beliefs' | Man shot 'for Christian beliefs' |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man killed by Islamist fighters in Somalia was shot because he had converted from Islam to Christianity, his widow has claimed. | 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, was found dead at the school his charity had built in Beledweyne on Monday. | |
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". |
Rehana Ahmed, 32, from Birmingham, and two Kenyan teachers were also killed. | |
Mr Ali had left Somalia in 1967 and became a Christian after meeting missionaries. | |
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." |
She said the last time she spoke to him was Friday evening when he phoned her to wish her happy birthday. | |
The father-of-two 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 educational 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. |
The Hakab Private English School was only completed one month ago. | |
Mrs Ali said Ms Ahmed, who was a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, had joined her husband at the school to teach English. | |
She said she was a "gifted student" who was "loved by all the people at the school". | |
She is survived by a brother and sister. | |
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. |