Erdogan condemns US's silence over killing of Muslims in North Carolina

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the US administration’s silence over the killing of three Muslims by an American citizen in North Carolina on Tuesday night. He stated that “the silence of Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry was telling” and that they “should take a position following such acts”.

This statement was made by the Turkish president at a joint press conference alongside his Mexican counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto, during the Turkish president’s first state visit to the Mexican capital.

Erdogan added: “I address to Obama: Where are you Mr President? I address to Biden and Kerry, where are you? We politicians must manifest ourselves clearly. People vote for us for guaranteeing their security of life and property. If you remain silent at those sorts of happenings, the world remains silent as well. Don’t forget, the world is greater than five” – referring to the five permanent members of the Security Council.

“The victims were not terrorists; they are educated young people studying dentistry and architecture are murdered at their house but the highest authority of the country, the President, says nothing,” stated Erdogan.

The Turkish President expressed his complete condemnation of the incident, offering his condolences to the victims’ families, wishing them patience and strength, and their victims mercy and forgiveness.

Chapel Hill police in North Carolina reported the shooting and killing of three Muslim students in their home on Tuesday, stating that the incident “may be the result of a dispute over a parking spot”.

The three victims are 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu Salha, 21, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu Salha, 19.

In the immediate aftermath of the killing, major media outlets were slow to report on the incident. Activists on social media shared pictures of the victims and criticised US & British media for its lack of coverage of the murder.