Turkish president slams Obama for 'silence' over Chapel Hill shooting

Reminds the US President that they have a duty to provide security to citizens, that the world is bigger than the P5

MEXICO CITY: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday criticised US President Barack Obama's silence over the killing of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill North Carolina, urging him to take a position over the triple shooting.

"Three Muslims have been murdered in North Carolina and President Obama, (Secretary of State John) Kerry and (Vice President Joe) Biden have not made any statements about it," Erdogan said during a visit to Mexico.

"As politicians, we are responsible for everything that happens in our countries and we have to show our positions," he said alongside Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City's National Palace.

Addressing Obama, he said that the world was much bigger than the five - referring to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with the power for veto.

Tuesday's triple murder in the North Carolina university town of Chapel Hill sparked accusations in the Muslim world of double standards with anger directed primarily at alleged bigotry of American media in their coverage of the attack.

Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her 19-year-old sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were shot dead by a neighbor whose Facebook page was filled with anti-religious posts.

Police said they were investigating the crime as a parking dispute, but families of the slain students repeated their belief it was a religiously motivated attack.

The alleged shooter, Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, has been charged with murder. Thousands of people gathered for the victims' funeral on Thursday.

Erdogan was criticised for his handling of the Gezi Park protests in Turkey where excessive use of force by police, allegedly on his orders, resulted in the deaths of 11 protesters. Erdogan had termed the Occupy-movement styled protesters 'a few looters'.

ABD'de 3 Müslümanın öldürülmesiyle ilgili şu ana kadar Başkan Obama, Biden ve Kerry'nin açıklama yapmamış olması manidardır.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 12, 2015

"It is rather significant that President Obama, Biden, and Kerry abstained themselves from releasing press statement so far, regarding the murder of 3 Muslims in US."

Suriyeli, diş hekimliği ve mimarlık okuyan bu 3 genç evlerinde öldürülüyor ama bu ülkenin sorumlusu olan Başkan hiçbir açıklama yapmıyor.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 12, 2015

"Three Syrian young people studying dentistry and architecture are murdered at their house but the highest authority of the country, the President, says nothing."

Sayın Obama'ya sesleniyorum: Neredesin Başkan?
Sayın Biden'a, Kerry'ye sesleniyorum: Neredesiniz?

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 12, 2015

"I address to Obama, where are you Mr. President? I address to Biden and Kerry, where are you?"

Biz siyasiler, tavrımızı ortaya koymak zorundayız. Halk bize "Benim can güvenliğimi, mal güvenliğimi sağlayacaksın." diye oy veriyor.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 12, 2015

"We politicians must manifest ourselves clearly. People vote for us for guaranteeing their security of life and property."

Eğer bu tür bir olaylara sessiz kalırsanız, Dünya da size sessiz kalacaktır. Unutmayın, Dünya 5'ten büyüktür.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 12, 2015

"If you remain silent at those sorts of happenings, the world remains silent as well. Don't forget, the world is greater than 5."