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Today, we launched a petition to seek justice for Kujtim Veseli, an 11-year-old Roma boy from Fushë Kosovë, who was raped and murdered this day, last year. The Police and Prosecution did nothing to detain S.O., although he had confessed to having raped Kujtim in January 2019. 1/8
The Police stated that they could not have known that the child’s life was at risk. However, along with the rape confession, S.O. had a criminal record of 15 active indictments and 26 criminal complaints. One of the indictments was for murder. 2/8
S.O. is also Roma. He confessed to having raped and murdered Kujtim on 11th of July 2019 and is awaiting trial for aggravated murder and rape. 3/8
The Kosovo Ombudsman Institution issued an ex-officio report recommending a criminal investigation of the prosecutors in charge of the case. Also, it established that the right to life and several other children’s rights were violated by the institutions. 4/8
Disciplinary proceedings were conducted against the Prosecutor Ruhan Salihu, who did not order a medical examination of Kujtim after his first report of rape, and who did not request the arrest and detention of S.O. 5/8
The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council decided to reduce his salary by 30% for a period of six months as a disciplinary measure. KPC has not yet published its' decision, although it is required to do so by law. 6/8
The neglect of this case by the authorities exposes institutional racism in Kosovo and the discriminatory approach to Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian citizens. 7/8
We are asking for: 1) A public apology to the family of Kujtim from the Kosovo Police and State Prosecution; 2) An independent criminal investigation of the prosecutors and police officers in charge; 3) Compensation from the Government to the family for the harm suffered. 8/8
