Neither am I. Although two things to bear in mind.

There is a lot of persecution of people who aren't the flavour of Islam the murderers tend to be. This is seen as persecuting people for being Christians, where it is for not being Muslim.

There is a lot of resentment and hatred towards the West by those pissed off with historical imperialism and latter day being fucked over. It morphs as comparing religions. The West is wrongly seen as Christian whereas it is secular other than the likes of Cameron trying to get the God vote. He obviously doesn't notice the polls his sort usually worship.

So much for Keith's assertion

They did not die for their faith. If thinking so gives you a warm fuzzy feeling when in your pew, your empathy is misplaced. They died for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It isn't their faith but the perceived link between their faith and the West that terrorists are exploiting.