That respect is obviously a one-way street.

(MSNBC) — The employers of an American man killed while working in Yemen said in a statement Monday that he “highly respected” Islam, after a group tied to al-Qaida claimed it had executed him because of his “Christian proselytizing.”

Joel Shrum, a teacher at the International Training Development Center, was shot dead Sunday in the city of Taiz where he worked.

A group linked to al-Qaida, Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), claimed responsibility.

“This operation comes as a response to the campaign of Christian proselytizing that the West has launched against Muslims,” an unidentified person said in a text message to journalists, claiming responsibility on behalf of the group. […]

“In ITDC’s cooperative environment, Muslims students are highly respected and observe religious prayers on the property. Overall, religious and political debates are not permitted at ITDC,” it added. “Joel S. was a very professional employee who highly respected the Islamic religion. ITDC is calling on the Yemeni people to rise up and rejects this hatred and violence in their country.”