Kenya, one of the buses serving the stretch attacked by the militiamen

The Somali militias of al-Shabaab, a group affiliated to Al Qaeda, two days ago attacked a bus travelling in the county of Mandera in the North-East of Kenya, leaving two people dead. The remaining passengers were safe because the Muslims who were there refused to help the terrorists identify the Christian passengers. This was a gesture of collective solidarity that prevented the massacre of the previous year, when the militiamen of al-Shabaab had assaulted a bus to Nairobi murdering 28 non-Muslims in a true execution, from happening again.

The dynamics of rescue was described by one of the Muslim passengers to Reuters press agency. A dozen guerrillamen blocked the bus ordering Muslims to split from Christians. Instead of obeying – said Abdi Mohamud Abdi - "we gave the others our religious clothes, so that by wearing them they could not be easily identified. And we kept very close to each other. The militiamen threatened to murder us, but we refused to split and we have protected our brothers and sisters. We said that we knew police was about to arrive, so the militiamen gave up and went away saying they would return ". His testimony was confirmed by Julius Otieno, vice police superintendent of the county. In similar previous attacks, al-Shabaab often eliminated both Christians and “rebel” Muslims.

The fact takes on a great meaning in a country that is still shocked by the assault to the bus of 2014, which compelled the authorities to equip the public transportation means on duty on that stretch of an armed police convoy. The other day the police was not there only by chance.

The reaction of passengers, who had the courage to react and stand up against terrorists, is a great warning coming from the Muslim world against the savagery of those who take undue possession of feelings and religious values for political purposes: it proves that the respect of others is more important than any division, that religious differences have nothing to do with hatred and violence. Those Muslims said “either we save everyone or we save no one”, overcoming diffidence and clashes to feel all human beings sharing the same land.

But from the Mandera county we receive also a very good signal, that can let us hope, on the eve of Holidays, at the end of a terrible year full with grief, in a new year we can build together under the eagis of tolerance and peace.

The passengers of that bus have shown us that through unity and solidarity we can win over fear and those who sow hatred and terror.

We can be “Righteous” in our plurality, all together. It is easier and helps us improve our lives.