Thousands at US funerals of Muslim \\\'hate crime\\\' victims

RALEIGH, Feb 13 (AFP): The families of three Muslim students shot dead by a neighbor in the US said an emotional farewell to their loved ones Thursday, reiterating calls for the killings to be treated as a hate crime.

More than 5,000 people gathered for the funeral of Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his new wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her 19-year-old sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, who authorities say were killed by a neighbor in the North Carolina university town of Chapel Hill.

The alleged shooter, Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was believed to be strongly opposed to religion, as his Facebook page showed dozens of anti-religious posts, including proclamations denouncing Christianity, Mormonism and Islam.