A young American English teacher who was executed by Muslims accusing him of proselytizing in Yemen was described by family and friends as someone who "loved his job" and had a heart for the poor. Officials said a motorcycle gunman and an accomplice pulled alongside the vehicle that Joel Shrum was riding in March 18 and opened fire.

Shrum was on his way to work in the city of Taiz at the time of the attack. The 29-year-old served as deputy director of the Swedish Institute, a language school, and spent time offering vocational training in some of Yemen's poor areas. "He was just motivated by especially seeing people coming out of poverty," Shrum's father, James, said Sunday night.

The assailants escaped after the shooting, but an al Qaeda-linked group quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. "This operation comes as a response to the campaign of Christian proselytizing that the West has launched against Muslims," an unidentified person claiming responsibility on behalf of the group Ansar al-Sharia said in a text message to journalists. The group, whose name means "Partisans of Islamic Law," also called Shrum "one of the biggest American proselytizers."

Last week, Saudi Arabia's highest Islamic authority said no Christian churches should be allowed in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes Yemen.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah said the Islamic prophet Mohammad taught that there cannot be two religions on the Peninsula and that only Islam should exist there.

Violence has increased in Yemen since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February, vowing to stop al Qaeda. The Islamic group has increased attacks in Yemen as a result.