Kenyan Muslim who shielded Christians during Al-Shabaab terror attack dies

Salah Farah, one of the Kenyan Muslims who shielded Christian passengers when their bus was attacked by Al-Shabaab Islamist militants has died in a Hospital in Nairobi. The Muslim teacher died during surgery to treat his bullet wound.

On December 21, 2015, a group of Kenyans travelling on a bus from the capital Nairobi to the town of Mandera were ambushed by Al-Shabaab militants.

The militants told the Muslims and Christians to split up but Farah was among Muslim passengers who refused telling the militants "to kill them together or leave them alone"

At the time, Mr Farah told the BBC's Bashkas Jugsodaay that attackers had offered him an escape.

"They told us if you are a Muslim, we are safe. There were some people who were not Muslim. They hid their heads," he said. "We asked them to kill all of us or leave us alone."

In an interview with Voice of America earlier this month, Farah said that people should live peacefully together.

"We are brothers. It's only the religion that is the difference, so I ask my brother Muslims to take care of the Christians so that the Christians also take care of us... and let us help one another and let us live together peacefully".

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet in a tribute to Mr Farah, described him as "a true hero".

Rachid, Mr Farah's brother said he hoped his brother's death would bring religious harmony and encourage Kenyans to live as one community.

Source: BBC