Kosovo facing extremism and Syria returnees

Years ago, in Kosovo it was estimated that around 50,000 people have ideas of radicalism and fundamentalism, a figure that has conspicuously declined in recent years.

However, in the religious wars in Syria and Iraq, Kosovo led with the number of citizens involved in these wars, with many hojaries being arrested and questioned.

But is Kosovo today threatened by radicalism and fundamentalism? How is this phenomenon manifested, and what conspiracy might there be?

The news.net has been conducting conversation with sociologist Jeton Brajshori and imam Zuhdi Hayzer to make the situation now Kosovo faces these phenomena worse.

Sociologist Jeton Brajshori of news.net has indicated that radicalism and fundamentalism are usually manifested in countries with poor economics and prosperity, dictatorial countries and ongoing conflicts.

According to him, in Kosovo this phenomenon has flourished after the end of the war.

“Radicalism and fundamentalism are usually manifested in dictatorial states, states of poor well-being and weak economy. In countries of constant or recent war conflicts, as is the case with us, but this phenomenon also attacks developed countries but to a lesser extent because they have greater control. With us since the end of the war, these phenomena have received great momentum, which year after year has marked growth as the peak has reached the beginning of the so-called “Arab admissions”, where hundreds of people went to war in these meaningless wars, while it is worth noting a large number of those who have gone to Syria where dozens of them have lost their lives there<3>, Brajshori told news.net.

According to him, radicalism cannot be defined, but fundamentalism implies that ideology, represented by a group of people, is absolute truth, and anyone who opposes it must be punished.

Brajshori has stressed that this spirit in Kosovo has come after the war with various religious organisations.

Unless with radicalism there is any correct definition to imply that an individual or a group that promotes major changes on both the economic, political and religious plains. While fundamentalism changes where religious ideology is absolute and everything contrary to it is unacceptable and must be condemned. This negative phenomenon in our country came after the war. The inflow of many foreign religious organisations and the arrival of many from countries where religion is dogma has increased the extent of radicalism and fundamentalism. The evil ideas of many religious clergy in us have led some of our society to radicalize and become an instrument for achieving their goals. Concern is that there are even educated individuals and, in spite of that, promote primitive ideas”, Brajshori said.

According to Brajshori, these phenomena can have numerous consequences, adding that the various sects that have infiltrated Kosovo are the reason why this phenomenon exists.

According to him, the consequences may be the isolation and poor example of a state, and what can be done is the state through mechanisms like police and AKI to keep an eye on suspected persons.

“Conservations by radicalism and fundamentalism are numerous. In Kosovo, the majority of the population are of Islamic faith, while within it have penetrated even some sects that are known as very extreme, such as the Selef sect, which opposes integration into pro-Western modern societies, that is, the Enlightenment wants to turn into obcurantism. The consequences of these phenomena can be sent to isolation and taken as a bad example. The state through its mechanisms as police and AKI must have under surveillance, care and react to the ability to enable individuals and such groups to be empowered. As many conscious campaigns as possible because a number of them have been misled in the service of some material favor or goods. The media must also be careful who is given space. So in general, our society should be vigilant because to whom it should be listed. Our country's youth is sound and should preserve unity and together fight against any phenomena that endanger society”, Brajshori told news.net.

On the other hand, Imam Zuhdi Hayzer mentioned occasions when such activities should be taken into account.

According to him, it needs to be taken care of by the self-intelligent waters”, who are endoctrinated and have failed to go to Syria or Iraq to contribute to wars.

He has also cited the sale of free books which he claims have strong financing from elsewhere, because the sale of 5,000 copies is impossible.

Hayzer has stressed that he needs to be taken care of by Syrian returnees, as these are well trained to carry out terrorist attacks even without weapons.

“If in a city there may be a large number of indoctrinations based on whether a group of people manage to pass over the legitimate religious institution with activities, if four people travel with the religious institution to the UMRE, while with private persons of other ideology traveling 11 persons or more, that means the large number of indoctrinations with ideology outside the religious institution's ideology, if a person with extreme ideology without work in a city publishs 5 thousand copies of a book and this means that it has free funding of high people in that city. As for the danger in a city, it must be realized that no country is immune to the danger of terrorism, the greatest risk to “the vetting waters” (according to global intelligence experts they are the ones who are incinerated and have not been able to travel to Syria and Iraq to be “contacted” in Gihad) as the risk of those who have returned and return from there, the returnees are a serious threat because they have been in conflict areas for a long time, and have taken part of terrorist operations and use of the war, said the news.

Hayzer has said that extremism is one of the biggest crises facing society today and, according to him, is widespread within different groups in society.

Hayzer has also mentioned the most important manifestations of extremism, adding that this is characterized by mental closure and intellectual rigidity.

“Religious extremism is one of the biggest crises facing society in general and Albanian society as well, this cannot be limited to a certain group or category and to a certain region or state. It is evident that those who belong to terrorist groups are extremists, extremism is common within different groups in society, is not specific to one person, and it is difficult to find out where it comes from. Extremism is a closed - minded way that is characterized by the inability to accept or tolerate faith that differs from one's beliefs or group. Of the social effects of religious extremism is a state of mental closure and intellectual rigidity, the most important manifestations of religious extremism are: Misunderstanding of religion, the Fasatism of non-tolerance in thought, accuses people of being deceived by being accused of turning away from religion, violence in dealing with and dealing with others, rudely at”, Hayzer told news.

Hayser of news.net has also listed a series of things to be undertaken to prevent the growth of such a phenomenon.

“Appropriation of religious discurs and consensus between religious institutions in a clear and moderate lecture. Enhancing tolerance, which is the basis of civil peace through ensuring the diversity of the state through its administration with appropriate legislation. Using voluntary campaigns in which civil society works. Formation of educational and cultural programmes of youth, whose purpose is to focus on the culture of pluralism and promotion, diversity and peaceful co-existence among all sectors of society. They should take care of women and not forget this category of society that are active in women's civil society organizations, because these organizations (other than government institutions) can easily reach numerous segments. The Great Imam Dr. Ahmed Tyjib says about living together: It's not that if I respect another's religion then I believe in that religion, but I believe in the freedom of others to believe in a religion contrary to my religion.”, it's Hayzer's expressed to the news.

Kosovo in co-operation with the US has returned to Kosovo a large number of its citizens involved in the wars in Syria and Iraq, who will also face justice.

Nevertheless, a large number of them continue to stay in war zones (over 100 Kosovars), and according to experts this could be disturbing for Kosovo.

However, according to security expert Avni Islami, the risk of radicalism and fundamentalism has evidently declined in Kosovo if compared to the past.

I think that sometime in 2010 was a radicalism trend through the widowism, but that trend dropped dramatically”, Islam said.