Civil society reacts to the Kosovo doctor who reasoned with female rapists because of the provocative agreement

Civil Society organisations have reacted to Kosovo pathologist Dr. Nazim Qehaja, who caused the scandal when he openly justified sexual rapes, which, according to him, occur because a young woman dresses in a way that she considers to be the <x0-moral and antinational”.

The joint reaction of 24 Civil Society organizations:

Not even six days have passed since Kosovo pathologist Dr. Nazim Qehaja caused a scandal when he openly justified sexual offenses, which, according to him, occur because a young woman dresses up in a way that she considers to be the <x0moral and anti-national body.

Following some social media reactions by human rights activists, women's and girls' rights, as well as LGBT rights activists, Dr. Sheha went on to reason his attitudes and beliefs, that sexual violence in some cases is reasonable, and that rapists should not be punished, nor should they respond to the law.

Calling “professionalism” by the doctor, a profession that in principle has equal treatment and dignity for all, Dr. Qehaja said that “... not only in human terms, but also professional, psychoscientist, rapists of such women, publicly, extremely provocative, should not be responding to the law”, away, to justify this statement, a few days later he added that “... for my professional interpretation, treating as the possible object of violation by persons with mental disorders, because only these violate, in particular, when they are provoked”. So he downplayed the problem of sexual assaults, denying that only people with “mental disorders” violate. Moreover, even after the reactions of activists, the same said that one nation is at risk “when whores, whores, homosexuals, and others speak of similar psychosomatic disorders!”

Through this letter, we below note recall Dr. It said that if sexual rape were specific for people with mental disorders, then our state through laws that are harmonised with the laws of developed democratic countries would not define sexual rape as criminal acts, punishable by 2-10 years in prison, but as mental health disorder. That attitude and obedience, therefore, is groundless and largely illegal.

The call and reasoning of such criminal acts, blaming “-provocational clothes”, is a public instigation of hatred, which according to the Republic of Kosovo's Criminal Code is fined or sentenced to prison for up to five years.

We also remind Dr. Qehaji, who also made scandalous declarations of extremely homophobic content, that the international medical professionals community since 1990, through the World Health Organization, has proved that homosexuality is not characterized as disease, much less as psychosomatic disease as it defined it.

Lacking basic knowledge and inciting hatred in a democratic country, a person like Nazim Qehaja would be reduced to diplomas and prohibited from exercising a doctor's duty.

We ask the Medical Commission to publicly distance themselves from the hate language that Dr. Qehaja has used women, girls and persons LGBT as well as to condemn this language and its lack of medical professionalism.

The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo guarantees freedom and security for every citizen, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, nation, race or religion. By law, every person who promotes hatred and divisions must receive due punishment. So we also ask the State Attorney to urgently take action against Dr. Chees.

Signed by:

DocFest

Lumbre Foundation

Kosovar Civil Society Fund KCSF

Kosovar Cultural Heritage Foundation Without Borders CHB

Community Development Fund CDF

INTEGRA

Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Developments KIPRED

Kosovo Youth Council

Coalitions equal for all ERAC

YIHR Youth Rights Initiative

Educational Growth Organization ORCA

NGO Consumer

Kosovo's LGBT Community Equality and Freedom Centre CEL

Social Group Development Centre- CSGD Kosova

Center for Art and Community, Artpolis

ATRC Training and Resources Center

European Minority Affairs Center ʹ ECMI Kosovo

The Center for Jurydical Assistance and Regional Development (CLARD)

Kosovar Center for Gender Studies

Kosovo Women Network RGK

The Eye of Vision

Shkelzen Maliqi

The Justice Association- NORMA

Numismatic Association “Demastion”