The Shahada is the first chapter and most common prayer of the Qur’an. This is reminiscent of other incidents, including when a Muslim in Minnesota in September 2016 asked mall shoppers if they were Muslim and then stabbed non-Muslims. In the Philippines in February 2019, Muslims murdered a man for failing to recite Qur’an verses, while releasing six others who could recite them. In Mali in November 2015, Muslims screaming “Allahu akbar” took hostages, freeing those who could recite the Qur’an. In September 2013 at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall, Muslims murdered people who couldn’t answer questions about Islam. In June 2014, Muslims murdered people who could not pass an Islam quiz. In November 2014, Muslims murdered 28 non-Muslims who couldn’t recite Qur’an verses. In April 2015, Muslims screaming “Allahu akbar” stormed Garissa University College, and only shot those who couldn’t recite Qur’an. In a Bangladesh restaurant in July 2016, the jihadis spared those who could recite from the Qur’an. In July 2017 in Kenya, Muslims asked Christians to “recite Islamic dogmas” and murdered them when they couldn’t do so. In May 2018 in Belgium, a Muslim who murdered four people told a hostage that he wouldn’t harm her since she was Muslim and was observing the Ramadan fast. In September 2018 in Kenya, Muslims murdered two non-Muslims for failing to recite the Qur’an. And also in Kenya in December 2019, Muslims murdered at least nine Christians for failing to recite the Islamic profession of faith.

“Two Christians Murdered in Kenya Bus Attack,” International Christian Concern, February 20, 2020:

02/20/2020 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that three people were killed yesterday and two others were injured when suspected al-Shabaab militants laid siege to a passenger bus traveling from Mandera to Nairobi, Kenya. During the attack, two Christians, Peter Kilonzo Musili and Kevin Onyango, were executed when they could not say the Shahada, the Islamic statement of faith. A Muslim man, Abdi Abinoor, was also killed while trying to protect the Christians from the attackers who were separating out non-Muslim passengers.

Confirming the incident, a security officer based in northeastern Kenya told ICC, “The incident happened on the morning of February 19 at Banisa, Mandera County, where a group of armed al-Shabaab members ambushed a bus ferrying 47 passengers to Nairobi. They sprayed it with bullets and deflated the tires in order to halt it and pick Christians from the bus. The efforts of the driver to escape from their trap did not bear fruit. He was also injured during the attack. Three people were killed and two others injured.”…

An evangelist based in Mandera said that the recent attack is a continuation of what has become normal in Mandera. “We are seeing a return of planned violent attacks against Christians in northeastern Kenya and the coastal region. Hostility against Christians has been escalating in Mandera at an alarming rate and is being carried out by al-Shabaab members. They target public service vehicles, where they separate Christians from Muslims and execute them. If not vehicles, they attack residential places and kill non-local Christian people,” he explained. “We are, however, proud of the few courageous Muslims who stand up and defend Christians. In this bus attack, one of them was killed for trying to stop the gunmen from shooting the Christians who were not able to say the Islamic prayer.”…

Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said, “Buses in Kenya have become one of the main targets for al-Shabaab. There have already been at least four similar attacks this year alone. In each one, Christian passengers are separated from those who are Muslim. They are then slaughtered like animals. What is encouraging to see is that there have also been a number of brave Muslims who have continued to try and protect the Christians. Those who do this must be lifted up as heroes. I am sad that Mr. Abinoor was killed, but he is a hero for trying to save others’ lives, and he needs to be applauded as such.”