Washington (AFP) – World leaders warned of the harms of politically motivated violence after the murder of right-wing US activist Charlie Kirk, a Donald Trump ally. Kirk, a powerful voice in conservative politics at just 31 years old, was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Utah.
Here’s how world leaders reacted to his killing:
– **’Dark moment for America’: Trump**
“This is a dark moment for America,” US President Donald Trump said in a video posted to his Truth Social website hours after Kirk’s killing, hailing Kirk as a “martyr for truth.” “My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it.”
– **’No justification’: Canada**
“I am appalled by the murder of Charlie Kirk. There is no justification for political violence and every act of it threatens democracy,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X.
– **’Must be free to debate’: Britain**
“We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear — there can be no justification for political violence,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X.
– **’Deep wound for democracy’: Italy**
“An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom. My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conservative community,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on X.
– **’Murdered for speaking truth’: Israel**
“Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization,” wrote Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X. “I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place.”
– **’Stop the hatred’: Hungary**
“Charlie Kirk’s death is the result of the international hate campaign waged by the progressive-liberal left,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on X, though US investigators have not yet made public a possible motive. “This is what led to the attacks on (Slovak Prime Minister) Robert Fico, on (Czech former premier) Andrej Babis, and now on Charlie Kirk. We must stop the hatred! We must stop the hate-mongering left!”
– **’Victim of atrocious murder’: Argentina**
Kirk “was the victim of an atrocious murder in the midst of a wave of left-wing political violence across the entire region,” Argentine President Javier Milei wrote on X. “The left is always, at all times and places, a violent phenomenon full of hatred.”
– **’Cowardly, horrific act’: Netherlands**
“In a free democracy, you combat each other with words, never with violence,” Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on X. “My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. I wish everyone affected by this cowardly and horrific act much strength.”
© 2024 AFP
