Africa: British Tourist Kidnapped In Kenya By al-Shabab

Somalia's government says it believes a British tourist kidnapped in Kenya is being held by the insurgent group al-Shabab. Judith Tebbutt, 56, was kidnapped by gunmen from a remote Kenyan resort at Kiwayu, near Lamu island.

The gang also shot dead her 58-year-old husband, David Tebbutt. Somalia's defence minister, Hussein Arab Issa, said Mrs Tebbutt, from Hertfordshire, had been taken across the border into Somalia by al-Shabab.

But the Somali government has not ruled out the possibility of other groups holding her. The Somali government had said it was doing everything in its power to gain her release. But if she was in al-shabab territory, the Mogadishu regime would need assistance from other countries, he said.

After the arrest of at least one Kenyan man there is speculation that the gunmen were a mix of Kenyan and Somali nationals.

The couple come from Bishop's Stortford and their son, Oliver, lives in Watford.
On Wednesday Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We are doing everything we possibly can on this desperately tragic case."

How can Somalia and Kenya progress as a nation when these few militants are behaving in such a barbaric manner, ruining the reputation of their nation. Their economy and tourism will be significantly effect by these incidents as tourists around to world will be afraid to enter Kenya.

The Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to within 30km (18 miles) of Kenya's border with Somalia. There have been previous attacks by Somali militia into Kenya.

These groups like al-Shabab believe they are somehow connected to Islam by fighting in the name of God but they are actually trying to destroy the pure teachings of Islam with their actions.

These uneducated extremists are acting purely for political power but the media describes them as a group representing Islam in some shape or form. They represent Islam as much as the Klu Klux Klan represents Christianity. Both groups should not be connected with religion!



The Ahmadiyya Post, Africa. By Zubair Ahmed. Sept 16, 2011