Turkish PM calls for 'joint attitude' after murders of Muslim students in US

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has commented on the killings of three Muslim students in the United States, saying he hoped there was no racist motive behind the murders and calling for a joint attitude against Islamophobia.

"We hope there is no racist motive in the murder of the three Muslim youngsters. But it is too early to say 'there is no such motive.' We don't know. When it comes out, I guess all governments in Europe and America will be able to show a common attitude against such racist acts. It is our right to see a common attitude and a serious stand against Islamophobia as happened in Paris," he said.

Thousands of people gathered on Feb. 11 in Chapel Hill to mourn three Muslim students killed by an anti-religion gunman who shot them in the head execution style, rocking the tight-knit university town.
      
Friends and family poured onto the University of North Carolina campus to remember Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his new wife Yusor Mohammad, 21 and her 19-year-old sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu commented on the killings of the three students, saying he hoped there was no racist motive behind the murders.

"We hope there is no racist motive in the murder of the three youngsters. It is our right to see a common attitude against Islamophobia," he said.
      
The three were allegedly killed by neighbor Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, whose Facebook page espoused his anti-religious views.
      
The murders are being investigated by Chapel Hill police as a hate crime, and sparked outrage among Muslims worldwide. Craig is charged with three counts of first degree murder, which carries a minimum sentence of death or life in prison without parole.