Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has strongly condemned the killings of three Muslim students in North Carolina, the US, on Thursday (Feb 12).

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir said during a press briefing here on Friday that the Indonesian government condemned the killings and hoped the police would investigate the case thoroughly.

"We condemn every violation directed at certain groups; violation is not a solution," he remarked.

At the moment, the government is communicating with the Indonesian Consulate General in New York, the US, to ensure the protection of Indonesian nationals in North Carolina and other states.

A district prosecutor was quoted as saying by the BBC on Wednesday that there was no evidence suggesting that the victims, Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad, and her sister Razan, were targeted because of their religion.

The police are still investigating the motive of the killer even as the victims families have condemned the shooting as a hate crime. Initial indications are that the gunman, Craig Hicks, was involved in a dispute over parking.

Several world leaders have also condemned the shooting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized US President Barack Obama for his silence on the killings of the three Muslims.

He remarked that politicians were responsible for events in their countries and should clarify their stance on them.

More than 5,000 people attended the funeral of the students who were shot dead in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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