The FOL movement reacts to Lieburn Ali: Ending the denigration campaign against activist Hope Loshaj

Hope Loshaj had criticised Minister Aliu for lack of transparency and for continuing the same policies of past governments against the environment, as a report was published on the Defence Ministry's Facebook page saying a document was compiled for the restoration of “Zalla”, says Democracy.com.

The FOL movement, the statements of Minister Aliu, is considering disparaging, ungrateful and threatening and aiming to lower the credibility of activist Losha in public eyes, its intimidation and silence of the ministry for the decisions it makes.

The movement has called on Minister Aliu to show high levels of tolerance towards criticism, to refrain from such statements in the future, to ban the denigration campaign towards Loshu and work with full transparency and to protect public interest.

Full response of the FOL Movement:

Minister Lieburn Aliu to terminate the deignive campaign against activist Hope Loshay

We, the underestimated, reject the denigrating campaign of Minister Lieburn Aliu towards activist Hope Loshaj, and express our deep indignation about his intervention in freedom of expression and activism in Kosovo.

On November 22, 2021, the Ministry of Environment published on its page (https://bit.ly/3GagQJ) in “Facebook” A text through which it announced that a document was compiled for the restoration of “Zalle” The same day, Mrs. Loshaj published a reaction through which raised serious concerns about the ministry's approach to restoration of this area, criticised Minister Aliu for lack of transparency and for continuing the same policies of past governments in the face of the environment.

On November 24, Mr. Aliu hosted a press conference (https://bit.ly/3ojNDBq) with which he launched a deignive campaign against Mrs. Losha. Targeting her by name and surname, he accused Mrs. Losj for slander, asked her to be careful before she spoke and gave him a long - distance speech about what cause she would have to deal with. The debut campaign to it was continued by Minister Aliu on the show “Rubicon” (https://bit.ly/3xRG2X) broadcast the day after the conference. The campaign was continued by other Ministry officials, such as the case of Minister Lulzim Bauman's adviser, who launched similar accusations through comments on Mrs. Losha.

Minister Aliu's statements are derogatory, contemptuous and threatening and aiming to lower Mrs. Losha in public eyes, her intimidation as well as her silence of the Ministry over decisions she makes. A minister's instructions on what an activist should be taken are state interventions in the right of citizens to engage freely in subjects they consider of general interest. Minister Aliu is a powerful politician, one of the most voted in the country and speaks from his position as management of the Ministry of Environment. It is disturbing that he exploits his power and state resources to organise press conferences on the intimidation of civil society activists with whom he had closely collaborated before coming to power.

We consider Mrs. Loshaj from Minister Aliu is the state's intervention in civic activism and violation of freedom of expression. The campaign against Mrs. Loshaj is a campaign against all activists and activists in Decani and Kosovo and other members of civil society who have the courage to engage in sensitive causes of general interest to contribute to improving the environment and life in Kosovo.

Mrs. Loshaj is a well-known environmental activist, her work and other activists have led to the degradation of nature in Decani tochi stopping the momentum, which she has been rewarded with four awards.

We ask Minister Aliu to show high levels of tolerance to criticism, to refrain from such statements in the future, to stop the denigration campaign against Mrs. Loshaj and work with full transparency and protect the public's interest.

Organizations and signer activists (in alphabetical order):

Ardian Ndekaj, Balkans Green Foundation, Balkan Sunflowers Kosova, CEL Kosova, Community Building Mitrovica, CSGD, Get up! , D4D, Debate Center, Democracy Plus, DokuFest, Ek Maouki, Kusari butterfly, Lumbardi Foundation, Forum for Civic Initiative, GIA SCI Kosovo, G LPS, GAP Institute, Kosovo Institute for Justice(IKD), I KS, KCSF, KDI, KFOS, KMDLNj/ CHRRF, KRCT, FOL Movement, ODK, OMM “Gen” Organisation for Quality Growth in Education (ORCA), P IPS, Pishtors, Civil Rights Programme in Kosovo (CRP/K), Kosovar Centre for Gender Studies, Active Citizens, Rina Kika, Women's Group Network, Station Centre for Contemporary Art Pristina, Vision Eye, Association of Independent Intellectuals of Decani, Y IHR Kosova, YMCA Movie.