VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN KOSOVO - WOMEN PARTICIPANTS OR VICTIMS?

Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) with the support of the European Union Office in Kosovo/ Special Representative of the EU, on 15th September on behalf of the project: “A tale of two cities, radicalization and counter narratives in Vushtrri and Mitrovica” has organized a roundtable with topic: “Violent extremism in Kosovo-Women participants or victims?”.

In this conference, the participants have discussed the ideas and initiatives on re-integration and rehabilitation of the women which are returned from the conflicts of Syria and Iraq”.

Skender Perteshi from Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, said: “It is necessary that the government’s strategy need to be more compressive to provide assistance, especially for women and children’s who have returns from the conflicts of Syria and Iraq. He also mentions that the many Kosovo citizens who have join conflict in Syria and Iraq with their families.

Besa Ismaili from Kosovo Center for Dialogue said: “That women from Kosovo who have returned from Syria and Iraq, are living in poor conditions, are uneducated, prejudiced, discriminated and isolated in our society, and there is no mechanism from the state to deal with these women.”

Ekrem Avdiu Imam of Mitrovica, said that Kosovar women, who have join the conflict in Syria and Iraq, are victims and not a participant in this war.

Arbana Xhara, editor of the newspaper “Zeri” said: “There is a missing of the institutional programs provided by state, to deal with women who were engaged in the conflict in Syria and Iraq as a part of ISIS”.  I think it is the time for different narratives. We should change imams in some rural areas, in order to prevent the spreading the extremism and radicalism in mosques.

While, Shqipe Mjekiqi from Ministry of Internal Affairs, has talked about the progress made by the state institution in drafting the national strategy against violent extremism in Kosovo. She said” the Working Group on the Strategy for the Prevention of violent extremism in Kosovo has agreed about the important role of women in the prevention of extremism and the strategy should reflect this”.

This activity is part of the project supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo/Special Representative of the EU: “A tale of two cities: "Radicalism and counternarratives in Vushtrri and Mitrovica". The projects’ general aim is to raise awareness and citizen activism in preventing the spread of extremism, as well as contributing to counteract against dissemination of propaganda of extremist groups in Kosovo.