From Syria to screen: How does violent extremism strike Kosovo?

The threat of violent extremism for Kosovo is no longer linked to war fronts in the Middle East, but to the online world.

There, through social networks and anonymous profiles, radical ideologies are finding new ways to spread.

The latest cases followed by the Special Prosecutor show that propaganda inspired by the militant group, the Islamic State (ISIS), still preserves its influence over certain levels of society.

The question that arises is: Is Kosovo prepared for this version of the threat?

The country's special prosecutor ensures he co-operates closely with the police, as well as with other local and international security institutions, in investigating such cases.

There are two cases in processing. While from the beginning of 2025 to this period, two charges against the two persons for criminal work have been filed: inciting division and failure, through ideological propaganda and the support of ISIS”, it is said in a response of the Special Prosecutor to Radio Free Europe.

According to a report by this institution, on August 14th, these two accused of using the social network, Facebook, to publish photos and videos of radicalised persons, to distribute material with stimulating content and to call for religious extremism.

Also last month, S.C. He was sentenced to six months in prison for inciting division and failure to endure.

With the Kosovo Penal Code, it is fined or sentenced to prison for up to five years.

From Religion to ultranationalistism

Adrian Stein, foreign policy expert and security from the International Centre against Terrorism, says Kosovo faces two dangerous forms of extremism, which feed online: one religiously based and the other ultranationalist, supreme and separatist.

For the first one, it says it is more visible and is treated more in the public debate, while the ultranationalist is often represented as hot “patriotism”.

Kosovo is highly vulnerable, due to increased political tensions and social polarisation, which has also manifested itself with interethnic clashes”, Steun tells Radio Free Europe.

Also on this line is Skender Perteshi from the Institute for Security and Resilience “Prevent”, which says radicalism with religious overtones remains among the most disturbing forms of extremism in Kosovo, followed by that ethno-nationalist.

He explains to Radio Free Europe that social networks have become the main tool of spreading propaganda, where individuals and extremist groups hide their activity under religious clothing and target mostly young people.

There are several closed groups, where individual individuals share messages with radical religious content, while some are people who call themselves Imma and do not live in Kosovo, but through the Internet do religious propaganda with significant impact”, says Perteshi.

Their goal, according to him, is to undermine the democratic system and citizens' trust in Western values and international allies.

In the Islamic Community of Kosovo, stress that the teachings distributed on online platforms often interpret doctrines with rigid approaches, and offer explanations, which not only misinterpret Muslim believers but also foster radicalism.

The “those who do so give themselves the right to interpret everything, regardless of the time, cultural, traditional and doctorial context of the country where they live”, says Free Europe Radio Ahmet Sadriou, secretary-general of the Kosovo Islamic Community Headship.

The possibility to do so is real and as such presents concern for all of us”, he points out.

Who is behind such propagandists?

Stein says identifying perpetrators of extremist online propaganda is not simple.

According to him, they operate at different levels: some are internationally recognised, some in the region and some locals.

Many of them say they exploit the anonymity that the internet offers, making it difficult to distinguish the right differences of groups or individuals that finance their activities.

He explains that while some groups openly share Islamic State propaganda in Albanian to radicalise their audiences, others are involved in promoting interethnic divisions and conflicts.

For example, countries like Russia (but other non-micholic countries) have sophisticated propagandistic platforms, aimed at interethnic polarisation in Kosovo and the Balkans, which have intensified the work since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022”, Steun says.

Luke Baumgartner, researcher at George Washington University's Program for Extremism, says that many studies have been done on the demographic background of extremists and terrorists from extreme right to extreme left.

However, there is not a single account: “that is most often seen is that they are young men”.

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He adds that their threat is always present, but there is only one difference between a global event like the Gaza war to escalate impact.

Who's targeted and through what platform?

Of the studies the Institute has conducted “Prevent”, Perteshi says the most targeted age groups in Kosovo are teenagers and young people up to 26.

Similar situation is observed globally, Baumgartner says.

It singles out even the most vulnerable categories, such as mentally troubled youths or LGBTQ communities, which it says are easier to manipulate and become potential abusers.

In essence, any person who feels excluded or isolated from society around him is more inclined to become victim”, Baumgartner says.

The platforms most used for spreading extremist propaganda are social networks, such as Facebook, TikTok, telegrams and others.

These platforms, especially those that provide communication through encrypted messages, are also used for planning and coordinating illegal actions and financing activities different from violent extremist groups”, Steun explains.

Is Kosovo prepared to face this threat?

Experts warn that the challenge is not only security but also social.

To combat online radicalism, Kosovo, according to them, needs to strengthen the protection of young people against propaganda, increase the capacities of legal institutions and invest more in civic and digital education.

Kosovo's “security institutions have information and are largely active. On a daily basis, persons arrest, close various sites on social networks, make analytical assessments and investigate”, says Perteshi.

In 2023, Kosovo has adopted the new Strategy for Prevention and Combating Terrorism, which will be valid until 2028.

The document is based on four strategic objectives: prevention, defence, prosecution and response.

But, according to Mentor Vrajolli, from the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, the focus of authorities is almost entirely on the dissolution of Serb parallel structures in Kosovo.

“As a result, the issue of violent religiously-based extremism seems to have lost institutional attention”, he says of Radio Free Europe, and warns that “such a long-term leave of attention could pose a major risk”.

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What strategies are most effective?

Baumgartner says governments are often powerless to prevent online radicalisation.

According to him, social media platforms, which do not regulate extremist content sufficiently, carry the main burden.

“Platforms like X have become a place for neo-notists and right extremists with no intention of stricter mode. Similarly, Meta has removed many of the security and fact control staff for her platforms, such as Instagram or Whatsap”, Baumgartner says.

According to him, only the telegram has taken clear steps, closing channels and groups promoting terrorism or harboring terrorist organisations.

For State, one of the most effective strategies in the face of extremist ideologies is the reduction of political tensions and social polarization.

The best protection against violent extremism is the correct addressing of political, social and economic challenges with a spirit of tolerance and constructiveness”, it concludes. / REL/Periscopi/