Going to a police mosque, a security problem or human rights problem?

Kosovo Police Director Rashit Qalaj has said this issue requires quick solutions, as a working-time policeman is unable to be in charge, while within the mosque, church or any other religious object.

He has expressed himself against the presence of a police uniform within religious objects. Police Information Office officials have not provided more details on how this issue will be regulated within the police.

The attempt to stop members of police from going to religious objects during working hours is seen as a violation of human rights by the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK).

Ahmet Sadriu from BIK says this problem should be addressed in terms of human rights, as under Kosovo's applicable laws, everyone is guaranteed the right to trust and practice the religion that belongs to him.

Therefore, in this regard, I think human rights violations are being made if they are not allowed or given the opportunity to exercise or practice their faith, even with rituals that convey it”, Sadriu says.

KMDLNJ: Cops can go to mosque or church, but without uniform

On the other hand, the head of the Council for Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms, Behxhet Shala, says that during the time when police are free time during working hours, they have the right to perform religious rituals, but this would have to be done in civil clothes rather than police.

They have to find a way not to go in a police uniform at least because it's not good to get into religious objects or other non-officially in a police uniform, because nobody knows why he's in there or why. But I think that during the rest of the day, either an hour during the day as long as they have it or on vacation, I think the cops can practice their right to practice religion, but I think they should choose civil clothes instead of in the police uniform of”, Shala told Radio Free Europe.

KMDLNJ plans soon to meet with the new Kosovo Police Director Rashit Qalaj to discuss the issue from a human rights aspect.

However, other members of civil society also appreciate that the issue is sensitive because it is also directly affected by human rights.

QK SS: Citizens Security Is Primary

According to Plator Avdiu from the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (QKSS), it should be primarily that this problem does not affect the safety of citizens.

“The question of police going to religious objects should not affect security, and of course, there may be modalities for religious rituals to be performed perhaps at a certain time, where it does not affect the work of police officials in carrying out their duties while they are on official schedule. I think that first of all it should be their duty as police official and then their private issues as Kosovo citizens. So, I think this should definitely not affect the safety of the country or the carrying out of their duties in law enforcement”, Avdiu says.

While the issue of performing religious rituals during working hours on the part of Kosovo police is not regulated, Ibrahim Shala spokesman for another security institution, the Kosovo Security Force (FSK), says members of this institution do not frequent religious objects in official uniform.

“In the main KSF is performing day-to-day obligations and activities. It is not practical that KSF members participate in prayer-forgiving uniforms”, the KSF spokesman's response reported.

Kosovo on the basis of the Constitution is a secular and neutral state in matters of religious beliefs. /rel