ANKARA 

Turkey’s president offered condolences Thursday to the family of George Floyd over his death. 

“I believe that the perpetrators of this inhumane act shall receive the punishment they deserve. We will be monitoring the issue,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.

“I remember with respect George Floyd and extend my condolences to his family and loved ones,” he added.

Floyd, 46, was arrested Monday in Minneapolis, Minnesota after reportedly attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a local store.

The racist and fascist approach that led to the death of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis as a result of torture has not only deeply saddened all of us, but it has also become one of the most painful manifestations of the unjust order we stand against across the world.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 28, 2020 

Video footage on Facebook showed him handcuffed and cooperating.

But police claim he resisted arrest. One of the officers kneeled on his neck, despite Floyd’s repeated pleas of "I can't breathe."

Shortly after, Floyd appeared to lose consciousness, but the officer maintained his position on the victim. He died soon after being taken to a hospital.

Four officers have been fired over the killing, which sparked mass protests and an outcry against police brutality.

Racist, fascist approach caused Floyd's death

Erdogan said "the racist and fascist approach" that caused Floyd’s death by torture deeply saddened everyone, "but it has also become one of the most painful manifestations of the unjust order we stand against across the world."

As a member of Islamic civilization, which teaches us to love humankind because of the Creator, I condemn this inhumane mentality. Turkey always stands against all attacks targeting humanity, no matter where, under what pretext or in what form they are committed.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 28, 2020

"As a member of the Islamic civilization, which teaches us to love humankind because of the Creator, I condemn this inhumane mentality," Erdogan said, adding Turkey always takes a stand against all attacks targeting humanity, regardless of where, the cause or form in which they are committed.

Mentioning Prophet Muhammad's principle, Erdogan noted: “A white man has no superiority over a black [man], nor does a black [man] have any superiority over a white [man].

We will continue to fight to protect the rights of all of humanity without any discrimination based on race, color, religion, language or faith in line with our Prophet's principle, “A white has no superiority over a black, nor a black has any superiority over a white.”

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 28, 2020

He added that Turkey will continue to fight to protect the rights of all humanity without any discrimination based on any differences.

I believe that the perpetrators of this inhumane act shall receive the punishment they deserve. We will be monitoring the issue. I remember with respect George Floyd and extend my condolences to his family and loved ones.

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 28, 2020