Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, in Kosovo published the monitoring report, “Challenges of Rehabilitation, Reintegration & Disengagement from Terrorism in Kosovo”, presenting Kosovo’s commitment to preventing and combating terrorism.
The report highlights that many individuals convicted of terrorism-related offences do not attend rehabilitation programmes, as the law does not require them to do so.
Speakers were: Albulena Haxhiu, Minister of Justice; Mensur Hoti, director of the Department for Public Security at the Ministry of Interior, Kreshnik Gashi, editor-in-Chief of KALLXO.com; and Labinot Leposhtica.
Gashi pointed out that although Kosovo is considered a model for rehabilitation and reintegration, the lack of a legal obligation to attend these programmes and the rise of right-wing extremism pose serious challenges.
Minister of Justice Haxhiu acknowledged that the absence of a legal framework mandating convicted individuals to participate in rehabilitation programmes is a concern, and said legal amendments are being considered to address this issue.
Mensur Hoti said the lack of mandatory rehabilitation increases the risk of re-radicalization and the return of individuals to illegal activities after their release.
The author of the analysis, Labinot Leposhtica, emphasized that only 29 convicted individuals have attended rehabilitation programmes while in correctional institutions and stressed the need for a legal basis to make participation mandatory.
“These subjects need specific treatment in order to let go the narratives based on which they committed those acts, and the penal code does not make this possible,” he added.
The 48 participants at the event included individuals from both central and local levels, experts, representatives from diplomatic missions, members of religious communities, practitioners in the field, and media representatives. Of the 48 participants, 30 were women.
The report is accessible online:
📌 Albanian: https://bit.ly/4bkDxqE
📌 Serbian: https://bit.ly/43c0yKv
📌 English: https://bit.ly/4hZF3Ru
This activity is part of the “Resilient and Inclusive Community Programme”, funded by GCERF.