Husband of slain MP Jo Cox says she died for her views

People look at tributes placed for Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament who was fatally shot last week, in Parliament Square, London, after a service of prayer, Monday, June 20, 2016. The mother of two was killed Thursday in her constituency near Leeds in northern England, and the man charged with her murder made a brief court appearance Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (The Associated Press)

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron attends a service of prayer and remembrance in St Margaret's Church, London, Monday, June 20, 2016, to commemorate Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament fatally shot last week in northern England. The mother of two was shot Thursday afternoon in her constituency near Leeds. The man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison Monday. (Yui Mok/Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

LONDON – The husband of slain British lawmaker Jo Cox says he believes she was killed because of her "strong political views."

Brendan Cox says his wife was worried about the "coarsening" of politics.

Jo Cox, a Labour lawmaker who had championed the cause of Syrian refugees, was stabbed and shot to death outside a library in her constituency Thursday. The suspect gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

Her death brought a shocked pause in campaigning for Britain's EU referendum.

In a televised interview Tuesday, Brendan Cox said his wife "was very worried that the language was coarsening, that people were being driven to take more extreme positions."

He said "she had very strong political views and I believe she was killed because of those views."