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Dear @NCRegister, Mr. Arnaud Gouillon is a well known far-right activist, who know is working for the Serbian government. As an Albanian Catholic, I feel offended by such a biased article. The war in Kosovo was not religious! Albanians are not Islamists! https://www.ncregister.com/interview/the-silent-persecution-of-christians-in-kosovo
Albanian Catholics were among the most persecuted during the Kosovo’s war, not by Albanian Muslims but by the Serbian army. Catholics of Kosovo were prominent members & leaders of the Kosovo’s Liberation Army. (Photo: Massacred Catholic Alb civilians in village of Meja by 
)
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During the war, around 600.000 Kosovo Albanians were forced to flee.
Photo: Catholic Albanian refugees, who were forced by the Serbian Army to flee in Albania.
Photo: Catholic Albanian refugees, who were forced by the Serbian Army to flee in Albania.
Testimony of the Kosovo Albanian Catholics clergy (Bp. Mark Sopi, Rev. Lush Gjergji) before the American Congress. The claim that Kosovo Albanians are Islamist is a baseless propaganda. The war during the ‘90s was not religious, but ethnic.
I’m pretty sure that @Solena_Tad is not well-informed on the Balkan issues. Here’s an article on the aforementioned gentleman who misinformed you. https://balkaninsight.com/2019/11/19/young-patriots-serbias-role-in-the-european-far-right/
Albanians as a nation belong to the three main religions: Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim. The Albanian national identity, and even the Albanian nationalism, is secular and promotes the Western values. I repeat, Kosovo is an ethnic issue, not religious.
There’s no religious-based discrimination in Kosovo. Christians are represented in the government, parliament, Justice, etc. Serbs have guaranteed 10 MP. The Catholic Albanian community is not discriminated, rather integral part of the nation and Kosovo.
The Serbian Orthodox community enjoys guaranteed rights. The issue is that the vast majority of the Serbian Orthodox community refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence. And unfortunately, often celebrate the SRB war-criminals & far-right policies, calling for ethnic cleansing.
As a Catholic Albanian from Montenegro, who has Orthodox and Muslim relatives, I’ve publicly supported the Orthodox procession-protests in Montenegro against the discriminatory law which was imposed on the Serbian Orthodox Church. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-montenegro-protest-religion/thousands-in-montenegro-march-against-religion-law-idUSKBN20N0LL
The only reason I’m writing this is to defend the truth. As a Catholic, I see it as an obligation. The case of Kosovo is painful, for the both communities, especially for the Albanians who were oppressed by Serbia for centuries.
During the Kosovo’s war, more than 10.000 Albanian civilians were murdered by the Serbian army. Circa 20.000 Albanian women were raped. Corpses of many victims are still missing. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-warcrimes-serbia-kosovo/serbia-unearths-mass-grave-from-kosovo-war-idUKKBN28E20E
The aforementioned ethnic cleansing and the massacres are still denied by the former & current Serbian Government. The attempts to make this a religious conflict is baseless, unacceptable and deeply offensive for every Albanian, especially for the Catholic Albanian community.
I’m no supporter of nationalism, nor God forbid hater of the Orthodox Church. As a Catholic, I cannot hate no human being, because God created us equally. I pray to God, and hope for justice, reconciliation, prosperity and peace.
It’s worth mentioning that during the War, Kosovo’s President I. Rugova fled to Rome, and received by the Pope St. JP2. Who supported Kosovo’s case. https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jul/17/balkans.unitednations
was received*
Rev. Anton Kqira, a Catholic priest/pastor of the Albanian community in Detroit, was among the most vocal advocate of Kosovo’s independence. He even met with the Pres. B. Clinton and other US officials.
The largest Catholic Cathedral in the Balkans was built in Kosovo. Financially supported by the Kosova’s Pres. Rugova and the Albanian community regardless religion.
The Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo, founded during the ‘90s, has continuously supported the KLA, President Rugova, and Kosovo’s independence.
