A report by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network published on Thursday highlights that in Kosovo only half of those convicted of involvement in terrorism have been included in rehabilitation and reintegration programs into society.
According to the report, the low participation of convicts in such programs, the lack of sustainable funding, and the lack of commitment of municipalities at the local level are considered among Kosovo's main challenges in preventing and combating terrorism.
Kreshnik Gashi from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network said on Thursday that the low involvement in rehabilitation programs is a consequence of shortcomings in Kosovo's legal framework, which currently does not make it mandatory to attend such programs.
"Our legal basis has a problem that needs to be resolved, a discussion should be opened on the forms of punishment for these people. The element that the report recommends is that we enter the phase where, during the imposition of sentences, the courts support people to enter programs. Currently, our criminal code does not allow the imposition of mandatory rehabilitation and integration programs, so it is impossible for judges to impose other circumstances within the framework of the main sentence that would push people to become part of the programs," said Mr. Gashi.
Labinot Leposhtica, author of the report, said that in the absence of such programs, convicts risk repeating the criminal offense, although he emphasized that so far this has only happened in two cases.
"Theological and ideological treatment during the subjects' stay in correctional institutions and under the supervision of the probation service during the probation period has not succeeded in forcing these subjects to listen to lectures by imams or even those of other religions, and this means that from a theological or ideological point of view they are untouched. These have gone to serve their sentence, have also completed their probation service and have returned to society with their same, if not more radical, views," he said.
The Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, said that this legal gap also poses a challenge for perpetrators of other criminal offenses, while pledging to open a discussion on the necessary legal changes that would enable mandatory rehabilitation programs, in addition to the basic sentence.
"We express our commitment that we will address all those related to our mandate, expressing once again our readiness for maximum commitment in relation to the responsibilities we have. To conclude, we remain open to continuing our joint work so that in the next report we do not have the same problems", said Ms. Haxhiu.
Since the start of the conflict in Syria, around 400 Kosovo citizens are believed to have been involved in the conflicts in the Middle East. Over 70 have lost their lives, while hundreds have returned from there over the years, mostly disillusioned with what they have faced. Their rehabilitation and reintegration into society is considered essential by experts as a way of preventing a repetition of their actions.
A report by the 'Sbunker' organization in Pristina published earlier this year emphasizes that extremism in Kosovo remains limited, but factors that could contribute to its growth are present and the environment is favorable for the spread of extremist ideologies./ VOA (A2 Televizion)
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