Report Inquiring Into the Causes and Consequences of Kosovo Citizens’ Involvement As Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq

Home , Islam in Kosovo, Lavdrim Muhaxheri, Music of Kosovo, Religion in Kosovo, Shefqet Krasniqi

Occasional paper BY KCSS 04/2015

Kosovar Center for Security Studies

Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq

April, 2015

Kosovar Center for Security Studies

Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq

April, 2015 Author: Shpend Kursani

Researcher: Skender Perteshi

Assistant researchers: Flamur Sallahu Catherine Lefèvre Krenare Loxhaj

Internal review: Florian Qehaja Mentor Vrajolli

Editing: Jacob Phillipps

April, 2015

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

Disclaimer: This project was funded through a U.S. Embassy, Pristina grant. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the Author and the Kosovar Center for Security Studies and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State. Contents

1. Key findings �� 7

2. Introduction ��17

3. Methodology ��21

4. The context ��24

5. External conditions and influences ��30 5.1. The roots of conservative religious ideas ��30 5.2. Dissemination of conservative religious ideas in Kosovo ��36 5.3. The roots of violent extremist ideas ��43 5.4. Dissemination of violent extremism in Kosovo ��51

6. Internal conditions and influences ��59 6.1. Conditions facilitating religious ideas ��59 6.2. Conditions facilitating violent extremist ideas and groups ��66 6.2.1. Particular personal characteristics ��67 6.2.2. Education and attitude towards it ��69 6.2.3. Family and social conditions ��70 6.2.4. The concept of ‘shahid’ and personal characteristics ��72 6.2.5. Family and social isolation and alienation ��75

7. Instruments facilitating violent extremism and recruitment ��77 7.1. The issue with mosques and imams (Takfir vs. non-Takfir) ��77 7.2. Dormitories and other private spaces ��80 7.3. The internet ��81 7.4. Finances ��85

8. The process ��92

9. The unintended consequences ��93 9.1. Implications of dealing with the consequences ��93 9.2. Implications of double standards ��94 9.3. Implications of the two extremes in (public) discourse ��95 9.4. The BIK ��97

10. Recommendations �� 101 Table of figures

Figures Figure 1: Period when foreign fighters from Kosovo joined the rebel groups in Syria (n=226) ��27 Figure 2: Currently known location of foreign fighters from Kosovo (n=210) ��28 Figure 3: Views on Islam (global) ��57 Figure 4: Views on Islam (Kosovo) ��57 Figure 5: Trust in religious institutions (urban/rural) ��60 Figure 6: Commitment to a cause (urban/rural) ��60 Figure 7: Commitment to a cause (age groups) ��65 Figure 8: Trust in religious institutions (age groups) ��66 Figure 9: Kosovo foreign fighters in Syria according to year of birth (n=199) ��68 Figure 10: Level of education of Kosovo foreign fighters (n=57) ��69 Figure 11: Previous criminal records of Kosovo foreign fighters (n=210) ��73 Figure 12: The dialectics of extremisms ��97 Figure 13: Treatment of Kosovo foreign fighters upon return (age groups) ��103

Tables Table 1: Number of foreign fighters from Western Europe, Balkans, US, and Russia ��25 Table 2: Differences between the Islamic legal schools, ��40

Diagrams Diagram 1: Sources of dissemination of extremist Takfiri ideas into Kosovo and the region ��56 Diagram 2: Conditions and process facilitating the phenomenon of foreign fighters ��92 The roots anddisseminationofconservative religious ideas conditionsExternal andinfluences T 1. he context • • • • • • • • pulling people towards violent extremism andviolent extremist groups inSyria; inandaroundpractices Kosovo, butitdoesnotfind to bethecore tive religious andinwidely spreading ideasandpractices more ideasand conservative recognizesThis report Arabia ofSaudi thestrong inintroducing impact - more conserva cal tenets, thesegroups stillposeathreat to state institutionsandcitizens. group ofpeoplewhencompared to the overall population size; yet, given theirideologi- findsthat violentThis ideasinKosovoextremist report are embraced by onlyasmall and fight violentattempting extremism. to curtail clearer inordermake thisdistinction to prevent counterproductive consequences when and what they stand for.makes an ideological distinction, are More needed efforts to inwhich this terms report (otherimamsandactivists), extremist efforts violent extremist Kosovo isinthebottom halfofthelistcountries, ranked 14 terms ofthenumberforeignIn fightersMuslim population, percapitaamongsttheir zens; with 42,andAlbania with30casesofforeign fighters 1millionciti- percapita for every amongthe22listed countries, country followedest ranking by with85,Belgium Bosnia Kosovo has 125 foreign fighters 1million per citizens, capita it thehigh- for every making ers from Kosovo are considered to stillbewithrebel groups inSyria; Currently,mid-January). around 30percent oftheconfirmed total casesof foreign fight organisations inSyria andIraq, Kosovo isranked eighth, with232confirmed cases(until and Turkey, from whichmostoftheforeign fighters are to have suspected joinedmilitant Among the22 Western states whichincludethosethroughout Europe, theUS,Russia, clear distinctions between clear distinctions anddecision-makersaswell isevident that asthe general policy- publicdonotmake It brought againstthem; being monitored, orcompletely dueto unrestricted alackofevidence for thecharges Nonetheless, more than60percent were released; theyare eitherunderhousearrest, 2015)undersuspicionsofbeinginvolved ororganisations. interrorist actions (January olent extremism. This includes, amongstothers, thearrest ofmore than80individuals Until now, Kosovo institutionshave takenanumberofstepsto fight vi- intheirefforts tensified; whenISISwasin Syria 2013, aperiod consolidated during andwhenitsrecruitment in- The majority, or54percent oftheforeign fighters from Kosovo, have joined the conflicts fighters; countries that are majority non-Muslim mostlyaffected by thephenomenonof foreign tions. O the highestnumberofforeign fighters percapitaoftheir Muslim popula- respective Keyfindngs f the22 countries listed, finds thatMuslim population itisthe ofthe this report religionization efforts by efforts religious (i.e. authorities imams) and th among22countries with causeof ordirect -

Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 7 Occasional paper by KCSS 8 The religious root anddisseminationofviolentextremist ideas • • • • • • • • • 20 Reinterpretations ofvarious concepts inIslamby anumberofradical thinkersinearly back to Egypt modern anditsprisons; the Western hemisphere, andKosovo inparticular, including theBalkans canbetraced The violent extremist ideaspromoted by ISIS,recently embraced by groups ofpeoplein tant extremism ontheother. ofultraconservative theologyontheonehandandmili- guishing between theexports be muchmore complex, andisexplored dealswiththe challengeofdistin- at length.It ofthosethatbraced endupasforeign majority by theoverwhelming fighters in Syria to thereforeThis report, findstheideathat suggeststhat violent ideasareextremist em- for thelanguageusedtowards othersofdifferent ideasand values. schisms were alsomostlyinstigated by afew imamswhowere notethicallyresponsible andmore ontheotherhand-such ofthesociety liberal practitioners the secularpart within andbetween Kosovo’s ontheonehand, andpractitioners and Islamiccommunity doesfind,This however, report that suchinfluences were an ‘enablingfactor’ forschisms explored ingreat by thisreport depth. Syria. Several contradictions within such debates this notion, and are are used to support intowhen inquiring theideas, asthefirstmajorcause, that encourage people to go to di Arabian version) wrong legalschoolscanresult andgeneralized inmaking conclusions or differences that exist between the Hanafi(Kosovo Hanbali/Wahhabiversion) and - (Sau findsthatforcausesofviolent in looking withintheschisms extremism As such,thisreport followers(violent extremists)are strict oftheHanafilegal code; open to individualinterpretation (ijtihad)initsteachings, andthe sect theDeobandi Taliban instance, that theHanafilegalschoolis despiteconsidered thefact more liberal andmost doesnotlocate violentthis report extremistideasinschismsbetween suchlegalschools. For in Kosovo andtheHanbalilegalschoollater Wahhabi Arabia, ideologyappliedinSaudi ent legalschoolsoftheSunnitradition inIslam,i.e. between theHanafilegalschoolapplied madeuntil nowUnlike efforts to identify the roots ofviolent ideasacrossextremist thediffer interact; directly alsoattempts theways towhile thisreport deconstruct andcasesinwhichtheycan- be instantly confused withviolent extremist ideas dueto thedifferences between them, tremist findsthat ideas, fundamental/conservative thisreport religious ideasshouldnot Unlike many claimsthat have inregards beenputforth to theinfluence ofviolent ex have adjusted for ofthe20 period themodern of theKharijites’ violent (theearliest deviated group inIslam)ideology, whichthe Takfirs The basictenets ofthe Takfir radical ideology,extremist whichhasits roots from thetime were inprisons, aswell tortured as from amongwidersociety; violent program, managed to successfully recruit from among his former associates who 1960s dueto hisaffiliation Muslim withthe Brotherhood. Mustafa,withhisnewandmore the Takfir wal One ofthemostsuccessful groups that emerged outofthesameideological thread was pretations ofconcepts inIslam; for asanenablingfactor theemergenceserved ofincreasingly radical andviolent inter th Century Egypt, Century and their consequent imprisonment by secular state authorities, have H ijra (or the Takfirs), the who during was imprisoned led Mustafa Shukri, by th and21 st century. This istheideology em- - - - • • • • • conditions at societal, familyandindividuallevels. layer. analysis order ofinternal In to anin-depth analyze conducts suchcases, the report ers at the participationist’‘liberal layer canmove to directly the ‘violent rejectionist’ / Takfir the ‘violent rejectionist’ layer, andat thesametime,- itfindscaseswhenIslamicpractition cases when the ‘non-violent conservative’ pull people out layerof to actually has served cases itdoesandsomedoesn’t. alsofindsthat there infact, The are report, some for to makeitsway anIslamicpractitioner to the ‘violent rejectionist’ / Takfir layer.In some the ‘non-violent conservative’ layer doesnotnecessarily represent adoororaneasyway tween thelayers notone-directional. This ofthepyramid; meansthat anditiscertainly as a ‘conveyor belt’ oran ‘enabling factor’ for be thetransition ofIslamicpractitioners findsthat onelayer case This reports inevery ofthe pyramid doesnotnecessarily serve pyramid; andthe ‘violent rejectionists’ / Takfirs at the top layer ofthe pyramid; the bottom layer ofthepyramid; the ‘non-violent conservatives’ at themiddlelayer ofthe presents apyramid whichdistinguishesbetween andputsthe practitioners’‘liberal at Islamic liberals on the one hand and Islamic extremists on the other hand, this report inthepublicdiscourseUnlike previous inKosovo assumptionsputforth whichdivides when theseimamsdisagreed amongstthemselves onfundamental issues. East, begantheirideologicalied together division. intheMiddle This divisionoccured when mostoftheAlbanian imamsfrom Albania, Macedonia,andKosovo, whohave stud- most prominent was ideological sometime in the beginning base – Egypt. of 2000s It who have East, becoming visited prey andstudiedintheMiddle to Takfir circles inits This ideologyhasfound itsplace inKosovo through anumberofSkopjebasedimams fromsity thebeginning of2005; 1999, the Takfir ideologyandits teachings entered Kosovo later on,butwithmore inten- natureservative beganto emerge at agreater scaleinKosovo thesecond during halfof ideology.home-grown While religious influences ofamore andadditionalpractices con- findsthat the Thisradical, report violent, and exclusive ideologyof isnota Takfirism alcohol, visittopless bars, andcommit against crimes Westerners; theyallowdeviate practices; Muslim themselves from to strict shave theirbeards, drink when planningattacks. worshippers, UnlikeMuslim the Takfir worshippers are allowed to ism, since theirworshippers inorder implement camouflagetactics to avoid detection Takfirs implication poseanalarming for police engagedin countering violent - extrem not, provide thewrong address aviolent extremist. inwhichto For suspect instance, the official Hanefilegalschool. for extremists,When looking bearded man,more than often those that Islambasedonmore practice interpretations conservative that gobeyond the The Takfirs shouldnotbemixed withthenon-violent inKosovo, practitioners including ideological tenets, anddiscussesthemindetail; exemplified by theembrace ofthisideology by ISIS. their hasdeconstructed This report are in their decision to tag hasty and frame someone as an unbeliever or a hypocrite, as verses dealingwith ‘punishment’ whileignoring references to ‘mercy’ and ‘rewards’. They misinterprets religious readings, andinmany casesbasetheirarguments inQuranic ers. Those that embrace the Takfir ofa radical exclusivist ideologyare part group which braced by ISISandotherprevious violent extremist groups includingAl Qaidaandoth- -

Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 9 10 Occasional paper by KCSS Conditions facilitating ideasandgroups violentextremist Multiple domesticinterplayingMultiple canexplain Kosovars’ factors embrace for religion 1999: after Conditions facilitating religious (conservative) ideas Internal conditions andinfluences • • • • • • • • ligionization; alsocreate thesefactors enoughspace that violent extremist groups can conditions thatDomestic facilitate and factors religionization are not only limited to re institutions. those belonging to age groups older than 30 years of age have 18-24 age groups have in comparison witholdergenerations. For instance, 42percent ofthosebelonging to the KCSS alsoshows that survey younger generations have more trust inreligious institutions less to national orstate causewhencompared to theoldergenerations. The latest 2014 apparently ledtheyounger generation to bemore committed to areligious causeand Such aconsistent lackofattention inyouth by thegoverning institutionsinKosovo has can engagein; There that is alsolittleattention theyouth activities paidto cultural andextracurricular and science ismany-fold lower thantheothercountries intheregion. education progresssecondary inhighereducation. The percapitaspendingineducation education education, continue andonlyathird to ofthosethat complete secondary tary between eachlevel ofeducation, whereby onlyathird ofthosewhocomplete elemen- and debatescourages on various issues. thinking critical rateThere is also a high drop-out system whereby boththeteaching staffandthestudents embrace anapproach that en- the economy. general, In theeducation institutionsinKosovo have failedto implement a fails at alllevels to training address needsofitsstudents and thepedagogic andskills alsoshowsThis that report Kosovo continues to beplaguedby aneducation system that Kosovo. andthepoliticalelitecitizens ofsecularinstitutionsin incomparison to policymakers needs. inKosovo Imams engagemuchmore withandremain directly muchcloserto eliteserning becausetheywere more familiarwiththeconcerns ofthepeopleandtheir As aresult, variouspoliticalIslamicgroups becamemore credible thantheofficial gov theliberationfaded after in1999,anditwas notasstrong asbefore. The unification and commitment ofthe Albanian citizens ofKosovo to anational cause services. ofsociety, rural part aswellclasses andthemajority asinadequate provision ofpublic structure,erning high income inequality, especially the differences between the ruling the ensuingperiod. Several problems have prevailed, gov includingcorruption inevery Poor economic conditions have andthelevel ofpoverty notchangedmuchthroughout wards PISG structures,erning mainlyby UNMIKasthesupreme governing at thetime, authority to ganisations to massively penetrate theseareas. Third ofinternational gov istheneglect and other structures “secular aid agencies” created room or for Eastern charity Middle wards Kosovo’s rural communities thewar by after international andlocalgoverning fruitful grounds for religionization immediately thewar. after Secondly, to theneglect First, thesocietaldisorientation andweak economic andpoliticalconditions provided ’s requests to investigate “suspicious religious activities” inKosovo. a lotoftrustin religious institutions, while less than 25 percent of a lotoftrust in religious ------• o o o o brace for jihadisminSyria, includingthefollowing: facilitate radical violent extremismbeyond religion, aswell astheKosovo citizens’ em- thecaseofKosovo,In findsthat a range ofotherissuesenter thisreport that thepicture lent groups canutilise; lic administration, weak economy, poverty, etc) creates enoughroom whichradical vio incompetency, andtheoverall ofthesystem ofsocialvalues, destruction ineffective pub extremist violent ideas. Weak state (becauseofpoliticalinstability, structures corruption, capture. Suchconditions alsoprovide to grounds embrace ofsociety fertile for aportion it, includingothersaswell. and thepotential way to heaven) that draws many withprevious records criminal to of becoming a Takfir (believing to betrueIslamanditsassociation with forgiveness to makechangesintheirlifestyles. Third, itisthevery ‘simplicity’ andeffortlessness records)criminal cancontinue with their previous habits and vices anddonot need any asmuchit effort, would whenguidedinto Islam, as they(usuallywithprevious lieving itto betrueIslam.Second, embracing the Takfir ideologydoesnot require previous records criminal to embrace asanew “religious” ideology–the Takfir, be without discrimination.As aresult, thisprovides agoodavenue for thosewithsuch steal,attack, lie, intimidate, engageinfraud, records andinalmostallothercriminal for several reasons. First, unlike in Islam, through a Takfir ideology one isallowed to record.than onecriminal Takfir thosewithprevious ideology attracts criminal records for Syria. O they departed that have already beento Syria records holdanumberofcriminal committed before T exceptions inthisregard, anddiscussestheminlength. cated inmore isolated areas intheirtowns andvillages. alsofindssome This report ployment before. They usuallycome from familieswhoare notwell off, andare lo from Kosovo are thosewhohave timeorpermanentem- nothadany form ofpart F findssome exceptionsThis report inthis regard anddiscussestheminlength. ing onlythosethat are obedient andare ready to follow orders withoutquestioning. hadaskedrecruitershaxheri inKosovo notto sendbrightandeducated people, want did notlikerecruiting educated citizens from Kosovo- Mu tofact, joinhiminSyria. In where hehadalsometwithLavdrim told KCSS Muhaxheri, researchers that Lavdrim school. According to aformer foreign fighter whospent around amonth in Syria, Kosovo citizens that have beeninvolved inSyria have completed onlysecondary to educate studyoftheQuran. peopleorto encourage anin-depth of The majority Education andattitudes towards it:Contemporary jihadimovements donotseek they have embraced the Takfir ideologyeven at a younger age; involved inSyria, ofwhich46percent are between 1985-1999. born This meansthat drawn by hypocrisy; This includesagoodnumberofKosovo’s citizens whohave been usually attracted by athird group whichfollows paths for distorted rebellion that are since theydonotdraw religious references from credible religious scholars, theyare (i) young; (ii)shallow- andlight-minded; (iii)ignorant; (iv)withoutexperience; and(v) Personal ofthosethat embrace characteristics:themajority the Takfir ideologyare amily and social conditions:amily andsocial ofthoseinvolved majority The overwhelming inSyria he concept of ‘shahid’ characteristics: Close to andpersonal 40 percent of those f thosewithprevious records, criminal 47percent hadmore - - - - - 11 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 12 Occasional paper by KCSS Dormitories andotherprivateDormitories spaces The issue withmosquesandimams(Takfir vs. non-Takfir) Instruments facilitating violent extremism andrecruitment • • • • • o inate their ideologyandrecruit; tories andprivate spaces, suchasprivate rooms, apartments, andeven shopsto dissem- as in the private spaces used by Takfir circles.Besides mosques, the - Takfirs also use dormi mosques basedinMacedonia, Albania, andKosovo; however, theymay notbeasintense Calls to based on join ISIS and lectures Takfir ideological tenets are present in a few argues onthecontrary; actually The report hasandthenumberofforeigntween thenumberof mosquesacountry fighters in Syria. statistics, doesnotfindinany thisreport way, the existence ofadirect relationship be vation for people’s involvement asforeign fighters inByusing examples andsome Syria. causefor theradicalisation ofsociety, moti- hasasaprimary a country norastheprimary However, one should not look at the mosques in general or the number of mosques that against Assad, whobelongsto aShi’ia himself; Alewi sect For example, theymay contribute to adesire amongsttheirworshippers to jointhefight other religions, cultures, andtraditions, especiallywhendirected towards theShi’ia sect. tentionally stimulate aworshipper’s desire illof to jointhefight in whenspeaking Syria utes to someunintentional consequences. addition,imamsandmosquesmay unin- In of non-Takfir imams are ignorant towards their worshippers, and suchignorance contrib people andthosenewinIslamto fallprey to Takfir, ontheotherhand, iswhenanumber The unintentional of imams and mosques that can play aspect a role in having young Takfirs, discussesinlength; whichthis report ever, beothercaseswhenyoung peoplenewto Islamcanfallundertheinfluence of lectures, orwhichthe Takfiri worshippers useeven ifimams are not Takfir. There can how place where they live. They by chance can be the mosques where Takfiri imams provide Those whoare Islamwould newto practising usuallyattend themosqueclosestto the shipers; places, whichsimultaneouslyholdaconsiderable ideological influence over their wor shouldbenoted that there fewIt are suchimamsandmosquesinKosovo very andother ing whenthesemosquesare intentionally usedby Takfir imams to spread their ideology. One oftheinstruments usedby the Takfirs is themosquesandimamsthemselves, includ- wait andattempt to solve theirproblems. ienation, eventually leading themto amongthe find comfort Takfir circles that readily many casesthishasdrawn thoseyoung membersofthefamilyinto isolation andal- who follows Islamandtheothermembersoffamilywhoare indisagreement. In not to do so. between theyoung Aprocess memberofthefamily ofalienation starts Islam,secular families, practicing usuallyparents,ple start tend to convince them a young Islam. memberofasecularfamilybegins practicing When suchyoung peo guidanceideology after intomany Islam.In cases, suchisolation usuallybegins when courages young people, includingtheeducated andwealthy, to fallprey to the Takfir F amily and social isolationamily andsocial andalienation: This presents that en- anotheraspect - - - - - Implications of doublestandards Implications ofdealingwiththeconsequences T The internet • • • he unintended consequences • • • • o o o o the very doublestandards that theysenseasecularstate,the very andinthiscaseKosovo, applies. that couldAnother potentially aspect legitimize violent extremistsand theirideologyis and radicals utilize to legitimize theiragenda,andthusgainsupport. inIslamthat the concept of martyrdom it isthevery Takfir andotherviolent extremists Prisons have produced themostradical thinkersinIslamaswell asviolent extremists, and but notofhisideasthat produced aneven more notorious organisation/entity –ISIS; his ideas were not defeated. certainly As a result, the world is free of latter that bothhisideas andtheconditions was produce andfactors killed, andsustain ofthemostwanted andnotorious violentkilling extremist, OsamabinLaden. While the Transposing thisacross similarcasesat agloballevel, onecantaketheexample ofthe ensure thereproduction of theseconsequences; (foreign fighters), instead of dealing withthe will root causes(conditions andfactors), police andtheuseofvariousmagnitudes offorce. onlywiththeconsequences Dealing of issuesmentioned above), involves institutionssuchasthe theengagement ofsecurity Focusing theattention ontheconsequences (foreign fighters) ahead ofthecauses(range younger generation, more susceptible to religionization andviolent radicalisation: There are several inthecaseofKosovo aspects that makeitspopulation, especiallythe seems that have suchpropaganda efforts beensuccessful. eign fighters percapitathat have joinedISISanda few other rebel groups in it Syria, ISIS propaganda videoshave alsopenetrated Kosovo, andjudging by thenumberoffor to recruit fighters from around the world; for state to authorities track violent extremistgroups, suchgroups alsousetheinternet ever, sword intheworld ofradical violent extremism; whileitisuseful isadouble-edge highest intheregion, andare comparable to many EUmemberstates. The internet how ment, theinternet penetration rate andthenumberofinternet usersare amongthe Despite Kosovo’s backward economic development, poverty, andrural underdevelop flicts in includingthosewhopreviously amoreSyria, flicts practised liberal ofIslam. form inKosovo,a numberofvictims resulting inmany to leave theirhomesto jointhecon- Emotionally appealingvideosposted onlineby ISISpropaganda tools have impacted month for theirinternet use; ble for householdsinrural areas, with65percent claimingto pay 15Euros orlessper addition to the strongIn penetration rate in rural areas, the internet is quite afforda- ofthem,or94.21percent, majority the overwhelming usingitfrom home; of internetThe users, majority or 53.66 percent, are young (below 30 years old), with to usetheinternet; side. For instance, internet penetration ishighinKosovo, with76.62percent claiming has managedto itsinternet extend coverage to mostremote areas inthecountry Despite ofextremelypoorliving conditions and infrastructure in rural areas, Kosovo Osama bin Laden, - - - - 13 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 14 Occasional paper by KCSS The BIK Implications in(publicdiscourse) extremes ofthetwo • • • • • • • • • educated East. imamsacross theMiddle in more andaccommodating easilyabsorbing theteachings brought inby thenewly BIK hasfailedto produce religious andscholarship, knowledge which could have helped which theIslamicteachings shouldbe delivered in itsmosquesandotherstructures, the Despite definingHanafismasthelegalschool oftheIslamicjurisprudence basedon while attempting to control afew mosqueswhere theycancontrol theirworshippers; a bunchof “hypocrites”, andwork more inamodeof often “excommunication andexodus” may notbeentirely thecase, andconsider itfilledwith astheextremistsdenounce theBIK, toare takeholdoftheBIK. liberals between theMuslim andextremists, trying This however, schismsintheBIK tion inpublicdiscourse andnow hasshifted appearsto beasiftheprimary schisms appear to be controlWhile the primary of the BIK through power-politics, the atten- community; various individualswithintheinstitutionandMuslim BIK’sshifted attention away from religious affairsonto personalgainsandpositionsof A numberofscandalsandpower politicswithintheinstitutionhave more thannot often affairs, whichBIKshouldhold; agation ofthe Takfir ideologyinKosovo donotspeak rigorousfor a control over religious affairs, manifestations through anumberofinstruments of religious deviations andprop officialswithintheBIKof claimsfromBesides having highranking control over religious hand, andthereligious extreme ontheother. conservative the two extremes –itiswideningthegapbetween theliberal secularextremeontheone extremes. unintentionally, socialoutcome,This dialectical althoughsurfacing enforces Such anoffensive stance ispresent onbothsides, resulting inapolarisation towards the towardstive ofsociety religious more part conservatism. more liberalism, andin antithesis, the “foreignness”- ofliberalism ispushing theconserva the “foreignness” towards ofsociety ispushingtheliberal secularpart ofconservatism having antagonistically thetwo sidesreacting inthepublicdiscourse, suggestingthat tween thetwo sides. This has, resulted furthermore, intheunintended consequence of Such opposingdefensive modeshave alsocontributed to thegrowing alienation be ontheotherhandfindsthemselvesety in; andmore ontheonehandandconservative ofthesoci- ofsociety religious part part alsofinds growingThis report ‘defensive modes’, inwhichtheliberal andmore secular the law. like any othercitizen, includingmeasures guaranteed by before law includingequality When religious figures breach thelaws ofthestate, theyshouldbedealtwithequallyjust to action “protect Islam”; brainwashed young Takfir worshippers who become increasingly ready to be called to canonlyreinforceand policies. actions Unmindfulstate security theconspiracies of The Takfirs filltheir worshippers’ mindswith various conspiracies againstsecularstates foughtactually against; a state whichisnotanIslamicstate, in this caseasecularstate, shouldbeignored and muchdesiredcome by very the Takfirs, since oneoftheirmainideological tenets isthat The application of, orthesenseofapplication ofdoublestandards produces anout - - - The BIK Donors A comprehensive approach to rehabilitation andre-integration; recommendations, theChapter onrecommendations shouldbeconsulted: ofasetkeyrecommendationsThis proposed isthesummary by theKCSS. For more detailed Recommendations • • • • • • • • • o o o three domain pyramid presented above, shouldfinda common language, andunite in Liberal imamsorthosebelonging andconservative to thetwo bottom domainsofthe nances, notonlyfrom sources coming from theGulf, butalsofrom financing; community shouldnotallow thebuildingofmosquesfromIt fundsthat gothrough individualfi- vant state authorities; shouldhaveIt centralised financing, whichcanbeeasily overseen to and rele reported shouldasurgently aspossibleberegisteredIt asalegalentity; tempts, willmore thannotresult often inthefailure ofsuchprojects. ofthepurpose projects, shouldremain onthebackseat. Taking thefrontline asforeigners insuchat Foreign donors, whenwillingto provide programmes fundingfor de-radicalization or selves; oftheissueandstateto ofradicalized thenature individualsthem- andparticularities itation programme. Any independent attempt at implementation may occur invain due Foreign donorsshouldprovide fundingto thecentralized andrehabil- de-radicalization tralized, bothintheideasofhow itshouldrun,andintheprocess ofimplementation. The deradicalisation andrehabilitation programme would bemore efficient ifit was cen- that initsessence of embodiestheprinciple “help andwatch” This meansthat overall, there needsto bearehabilitation andreintegration programme ble; Arrests, should be avoided imprisonment, or sending people to court as much as possi- described above.described the identification ofwhethertheybelong to group of (a), returnees of their returnpurpose and their fundamental motivation for returning –involving Those that return shouldgothrough ascreening process, whichwould assessthe proach shouldbeundertaken; As such,a ‘one size fitsall’ approach andamulti-facetedwould not modelap work, orpotentiallyturn would want to return to Kosovo: The following are the categories that would foreign describe fighters that either re (b) (a) (c) further recruitment anddissemination ofthe further Takfir ideology. their violent extremistideology, butwant to return to Kosovo to facilitate Those that donotregret in ortheupholdingof joiningtheconflict Syria, to violence; ist ideologywithoutresorting Those that regret in but joiningtheconflict Syria, want to keeptheir- extrem andideology; lent extremist acts Those that regret in and joiningtheconflict Syria, want to give uptheirvio (b) , or(c)as - - - - - 15 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 16 Occasional paper by KCSS tions; aswell as(vi)anumber ofotherrecommendations ingeneral. ganisations; (iii)conventional andsocialmedia presence; (iv)theEU;(v)otherstate institu- There are also anumberofotherrecommendations or for (ii)charity (i)families andfriends; structures: The state security Imams • • • • • • • • • state security structures.state security Not discriminate againstthosewithreligious backgrounds whoapplyto work within join inwithradical actions; unacceptable language towards others, unintentionally invite and indirectly people to teachings, wheresequences oftheirparticular theseteachings, inmany casesby using a discussion,andtheyshouldbetold by agenciesofthepotential thestate con security - should again restrain themselves from arresting them. Such imams should be invited for for someoftheirworshippers embracing a “violent rejectionist” / Takfir ideology, they those onthesecond layer ofthepyramid, unintentionally asan serve “enabling factor” When agencies assess thatstate potential security “non-violent conservative” imams – agencies asmuchpossiblefrom usingforce (i.e. arrests, prosecutions, etc); cifically withintelligence that actions would basedpolicing, restrain security andtaking Should have amore targeted approach towards violent extremists, i.e. to work more spe route into Islaminorder to find rapid forgiveness; not magnify thosesins, becausesuchyoung peoplemay fallprey to Takfir for aquick youngIf peoplehave committed asin,basedonreligious interpretations, imams should Takfir ideology; as possible, anduniteto deradicalize inefforts the young peoplewhohave fallenunder “non-violent conservative” layer ofthepyramid, shouldengageinantagonisms aslittle that fallunderthe Imams partipationists”“liberal layer andthosethat fallunderthe selves; others whohave already fallenunder Takfir, whoframe andpublicallylynchimamsthem- and notignore them.Suchimamsshouldalsobepatient withpotential worshippers and layer ofthepyramid – “non-violent conservative”) shouldstay closeto their worshippers pyramid - aswell participationists”) “liberal asthosethat are more (middle conservative Credible andlegitimate imams, includingthosethat are more liberal (bottom layer ofthe layer ofthepyramid “violent rejectionists” / Takfirs; whichcaneasilybeidentifiedand extremist thinking, –i.e. thosebelonging to the top Work inpreventing the creation status ofimamswho express of thecelebrity aradical other religious affairs; Increase andenforce more insidemosquesregarding rigorous inspection teachings and ofrelevantwith thepermission for BIKstructures legitimate reasons; mosquesshouldhappen much aspossible;changesto inparticular teaching curriculums Adopt ofteachings ayearly inallmosques, curriculum whichshouldbestandardized as ment; tions ofandteachings inIslam. The BIKshouldbethehubfor facilitating suchrapproche fighting against despiteextremism, theirdifferences in(liberal/conservative) interpreta- - - - da affiliated factions thatda affiliated emerged 2012. during factions from Kosovo hadalready joinedsomeoppositionforces, Al Qai- includingthethenunknown to fight Assad’s regime. Little, ifnot knownat all, backthen that anumberof citizens was also cluding theFSA,was fragmented andthat many violent extremist groups were joiningforces inKosovostructures know, however, that at thetimethat theoppositionforces inSyria, in- established somediplomatic withtheSyrian contacts opposition. had joinedtheoppositionforces inSyria againsttheregime ofBasharal-Assad, was reported in Kosovo wheninmidNovember 2012,aKosovo citizen from Prishtina, who NamanDemolli, grabbedThe civil strife the attention in Syria further of the citizens and governing structures lishment of the so-called IslamicState andSyria (ISIS) ofIraq lishment oftheso-called and cannotbeattributed inisolation to therecentIraq andtheestab in and conflicts Syria The involvement offoreign MiddleEastisnota fighters recent inthe in phenomenon conflicts 6 5 4 3 2 o 1 security concerns forsecurity bothEurope andtheUS. theUnited during Easter States’ conflicts Middle Iraqi invasion (US) in2003,which raised some more than16millionandAmerica’s more felt than2millionMuslims thepullto engageinthe foreign fighters involvedIraq. in and Syria as aforeign fighter inany ofthese extentconflicts, atleastnot totheof recent wave of considered asremote events, withnoKosovo citizen to officiallyhave reported beenengaged Middle East were areinthe conflicts until Muslim, majority though theoverwhelming recently in fighting against Assad’s regime at thebeginning. Enver Hoxhaj, theoppositionforces openlysupported that created theFree Syrian Army (FSA) member states incondemning theregime ofBasharal-Assad. Kosovo’s Foreign (FM), Minister position on the civil strife in Syria. Kosovo joined other western governments and many NAT This changedwhen,by mid-May 2012,thegoverning institutionsinKosovo beganto takea as remote asprevious events East, includingtherecent intheMiddle unrest inSyria. African countries was equally Eastern andNorth Arab Middle inmany Muslim Spring majority 2. individuals from andJune2012 Kosovo hadalready between January joinedtheconflict According 2014data provided to by 20January theAnti-Terrorist within theKosovo Police, Department 17 spective. open to mediaandthediscussions were focused majorly in Kosovo onthelessonslearned from politicalper and canconfirm that there was nodiscussion regarding anyfor trainings inKosovo. support The meeting was was presentof thisreport at ameetingwiththerepresentatives ofSyria’s oppositioninexile heldinKosovo, that Kosovo mediareported pro-Russian was establishingatraining campfor Syrian opposition. The author Russianofficials, including theUNRussianA numberofhighranking Ambassador, andsome VitalyChurkin, available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/us-syria-kosovo-idUSBRE84D1EI20120514 Louis (2012) Charbonneau “Kosovo voices for Syria strong opposition” support May 14,2012.Reuters. Online There are voices that mention afew casesoftheinvolvement ofKosovo citizens inAfghanistan andIraq ers%20in%20syria%20and%20iraq%20byman%20shapiro/be%20afraid%20%20web.pdf available at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2014/11/western%20foreign%20fight Foreign Fighters inSyria andIraq”. Policy Paper. Nr. 34.November 2014.Foreign Policy at Brookings. Online andJeremy DanielByman Shapiro (2014) Afraid.“Be LittleAfraid: Be The Threat of Terrorism from Western willbeusing report “ISIS” asaterm throughout thereport. ther denominations for ISISinclude:theIslamicState (IS)andtheIslamicState andLevant ofIraq (ISIL). This Intr oduc tion 3 Similarly, for Kosovo citizens the rapid spread of the 6 2

For Kosovo citizens, ontheotherhand, al- 4 Kosovo’s FM confirmed thenthat hehad 1 . The numberof Western Europe’s 5 Littledidthegoverning - O - - 17 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 18 Occasional paper by KCSS calling onallyoung peopleinKosovo to notjointhefighting in Syria. was onlyinNovemberforIt thefirsttime, 2013whentheBIK, issuedanofficialdeclaration nian speaking individuals, one fromnian speaking Kosovo changed, however,The further picture wheninO toalarming Kosovo’s citizens andinstitutionsingeneral. of Kosovo, except for ofimamsandafew afraction others, these public callswere notvery them intheir “just cause”. Given that Arabic isneitherspokennorunderstood by thecitizens appeared to beISIScontrolled zones were from callingonallMuslims around theworld to join capabilities, theirrecruitment alsointensified. fighters andArab speaking recruiters from what consolidatedated factions andstrengthened over andin 2013,bothinstructure andduring Easterninto conflicts. otherpreviously Middle AsISIS,and,extent Al Qaidaaffili- to a certain as itbecameclearthat hewas nottheonlyforeign fighter from Kosovo to have beendrawn family by hisKosovo peerswhowere withhiminSyria, whichraised someeyebrows inKosovo Middle East. inthe conflicts Demolli killing ofNamanwasbrought The news aboutthe to his 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 in Kosovo didnothave onhow aclearpicture theoppositionagainstAssad was organized. in theirhomestovo boththecitizens jointhe conflict Syria, left andthe relevant institutions seemed, however, that even ofindividualsfrom 2013,theyear during Koso whenthemajority presented adistressful signal for Kosovo asitbrought thecivilstrife inSyria closerto home. It Public callsinAlbanian languageby individualsinvolved fighting in Syria invariousfactions appeared onavideocallingothersto joinhiminthe land”“holy to fight a“holy war”. and thekuffar other “lions” –referring to thecombatents fighting alongsidehim,inorder to fight thetaghut Lavdrim reappeared Muhaxheri in another video calling on all Albanians to join him and the against theregime ofBasharal-Assad andother “infidels”. A few months later, 2014, inJanuary to have beenkilled. months later, inMarch 2014,another citizen from Kosovo, from Morina Malisheva, Rexhep from Albania siri BIK(2013). përopinion”“Deklaratë November- 13,2013. Onlineavailable at:http://bislame.net/lajme/476-dkl Kosovo 2013,moreduring than120individuals left to jointhefight in Syria. According 2014data provided to by 20January the Anti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police, Department only watch?v=2NGM8ds0H (2014) Klan RTV përSiri” bëhetthirrje ku “Video Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/ deadlater was reported inJuly 2014. Morina Rexhep watch?v=zhbWhgS6svc O nline.net Indeks (2014) Youtube“Lufta –Indeksonline“ neSiri . Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/ kuffar Islamic doctrine, meansunbeliever In ing inotherdeities taghut Islamic doctrine, refers In to thestate from orthosewhoworship Allah anything /thosebeliev apart tube.com/watch?v=o0TQ3M5xYY Y EbuRuvejda (2013). përXhihad“Youtube“Plaku ngaShqipëria-thirrje . Onlineavailable at: https://www.you- at: http://gazeta-shqip.com/lajme/2013/10/13/shqiptari-ben-thirrje-per-xhihad-ne-siri/ G Online available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaD-hopf1_s Studio IslamePrishtina (2012). Kosova] Klan [5min]“.“Kosovari është NamanDemolli vrarë [TV nëSiri Youtube. azeta Shqip(2013). përxhihadnëSiri” bënthirrje “Shqiptari O 9 (amanapproximately inhis60s),callingonallAlbanian to Muslims jointhewar 11 ; he also used the opportunity to askfor theUSG ; healsousedtheopportunity 7 e is known asthefirst Heisknown foreign fighter from Kosovo killedin recent tobe j4 8 (by the name Lavdrim and the other Muhaxheri) ctober 2013,videosappearedctober oftwo Alba- Shqip. 13,2013. Gazeta ctober Onlineavailable eneral’s head. 16 It alsoappeared, It during 12 Again, two - 15 14 13 10

This ismostlydueto thelackofinformation at thegrassroots level whichcould have shed were provided media,andeven policymakers, by by experts, religious figures andscholars. Besides manyMiddle East? inthe attempts, littleinformedjoin theconflicts arguments very which attempted to shed some light on a crucial question, that is, what is causing people to Many publicdebates took place inKosovo areas intheregion andotherAlbanian speaking militant groups inSyria. asforeigngaged inSyria andIraq fighters, andmany more continued to beenticed by various ideas inKosovo, more than150individualsfrom Kosovo were ofhaving suspected beenen- outraids againstforeignKP carried fighters whocameback to, andthosepromoting their neither religious nornational. were thetimethesecrimes By committed andby thetime period, andfor ofKosovo areligious –somethingthat citizens’ purpose was not part tradition: were that suchacts committed thefact sidering by two Kosovo time citizens withinashort home. and stated that there isnoholywar inSyria andthat thepeoplefighting there should return Kosovo whowere callingonorrecruiting thecitizens ofKosovo in to jointheconflict Syria, year, Naim oftheBIK, theMufti Tërnava, personallycondemned theideasandideologuesin zen. local andinternational mediashowed Lavdrim beheadinga19-year Muhaxheri citi- oldIraqi Kosovo citizens in Syria the same period. during in On 29 July 2014, a widely shared report fighters, as andindirectly recruiters andpropagators), by a were ruthlessacts few undertaken of being involvedagainst the individuals suspected in as (directly in conflicts Syria foreign While raids ontheonehandKPwas inKosovo conducting over thelate summerof2014 22 21 20 19 18 17 both inKosovo andintheLevant. vo citizens to notjointheopposition forces fell inSyria andIraq ondeafearsfor afew citizens, individuals whomight have potentially posedathreat to the state. this period, that theKosovo Police (KP)hadthesituation undercontrol, andwere monitoring the beheading of a 19-year-old came as a result of the latter of being a spy. suspected another person. Lavdrim comes from) Muhaxheri whogoesby hiscode Al nameSaleel Sawarim, beheaded weeks later, on17August 2013,anotherKosovo citizen (atown from inKosovo Kaçanik where 20 shpat-nje-personi-ne-sy-te-femijeve-foto18 Zëri2014. Gazeta . Onlineavailable at: http://old.zeri.info/artikulli/45850/shqiptari-tjeter-i-heq-koken-me- Zëri.info (2014). tjetër“Shqiptari iheqkokënmeshpat njëpersoninësytë fëmijëve (Foto+18)“ August 17, ton-do-tia-prisja-koken/ Ora- News. Onlineavailable at: http://www.oranews.tv/rajoni/intervista-muhaxheri-cdokujt-qe-tradh Fatos (2014). Mahmutaj Çdokujt Muhaxheri: qëtradhton dot’ia“Intervista. kokën” prisja August 2,2014. heri-pret-koka-njerezish-ne-siri/ Tema. Onlineavailable at: http://www.gazetatema.net/web/2014/07/29/fotot-tronditese-lavdrim-muhax G ofIraq, Israel,includes countries Palestine, like:Syria, part Lebannon, oftheSinai. Jordan, andpart The Levant isahistorical geographical term referring to anarea anditusually eastoftheMediterranan Sea, Koha.net. Onlineavailable at: http://koha.net/?id=27&l=6920 Koha.net(2014). “Tërnava të fton rinjtë shqiptarë të nëluftërat eIrak kthehennëKosovë“ nëSiri 18,2014. April http://old.zeri.info/artikulli/20527/terrorizmi-kercenim-per-kosoven Bajrami (2013). Selvije “Terrorizmi, kërcënim përKosovën” November Zëri 14,2013.Gazeta . Onlineavailable at: In an interview for an Albanian an interview daily a few In days later, Lavdrim explained that Muhaxheri 18 aeta Tema (2014). “Foto Tronditëse njerëzish /Lavdrim July29,2014.Gazeta pret nëSiri“ Muhaxheri koka Nonetheless, it appeared that these and other calls at the time addressed to the Koso 22 bells inKosovo, set off some alarm of such acts The cruelty especially con- 19

17 In April ofthefollowing April In 21 A few - - 19 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 20 Occasional paper by KCSS and depth. an issue, theKCSS took theresponsibility to inquire into thissensitive issueingreater length andcapacities to dealwithsuch domain,andhaving the expertise ofthesecurity nificant part predominantly Considering inSyria andIraq). that theissueofforeign fighters occupies asig- the Kosovo citizens’ involvement asforeign MiddleEast(more fighters inthe inthe conflicts long research project, withthecore to purpose inquire into thecausesandconsequences of It is Easterncent conflicts.for this Middle reason that the a6-monthKCSS decided to conduct some light inunderstandingthedrivers behindpeople’s involvement asforeign fighters in re - of thisresearch as ithelpedinunderstanding theroot causes, bothinterms ofideologyand in involvedwith those directly in conflict, were in combination useful extremely for the purposes researchon strict ethics. andmeetingswithformerThe interviews violent extremistsaswell as the condition of anonymity based respects (for reasons), which this report personal security to contribute to fighting violent inKosovoextremism andelsewhere. They alsodidsounder as outof(religious) regret ofhaving beenradical extremistsinthefirstplace, andwiththewill ments, etc. They theresearch agreed to outofreligious support andpersonalprinciple, aswell ganisation, ideological roots, religious attitudes towards instru- tactics, anumberofsubjects, ideological tenets oftheviolent extremistcircles, thosepropagating suchideologies, theiror individuals were to this research supportive asthey provided, among other things, thebasic extremism andfacilitated recruitment for foreign fighters inKosovo were alsomade. Such violent ideologies andusedto belongto circles that propagated anddisseminated violent individuals whohave withafew contact Direct de-radicalized formerly embraced radical media. already appeared inthemediaandfor whichpersonal detailsalready exist onopensource as to protect their identity. will presentThis report the true and full names of those who have appear withrandom initials, thetrueinitialsoftheirnames, whichdonotnecessarily reflect so eral circumstantial conditions. The namesofthosewhowanted to remain anonymous will foreignhave helpedextensively inobserving fighters’ individual, family, social, andothergen- quantitative data was gathered includingsight for visits which ofthis report, thepurposes members ofthefamiliesandrelatives offoreign fighters from Peja andGjakova. addition, In Prishtina, Klina, i Elezit, Kaçanik, Vitia, while somemeetingswere alsoheldinPrishtina with are underarrest. Suchfieldvisits were inthe conducted following municipalities:Gjilan,Hani involvedwhich includethosestilldirectly thosethat inconflict, losttheirlives, orthosethat of thefamily(parent, sibling, orothercloserelatives) ofanother12foreign fighters, among have with6former metdirectly foreign fighters whocameback to Kosovo, andmembers were contacts and direct made. As such,KCSS researchers, including theauthorofthisreport, endeavour thatoutto turned besuccessful addresses inmostofthecasesasexact were found researchers went to directly theirhometowns orvillagesandinvestigated theiraddresses, an Given that there was no available information contact for KCSS of these subjects, the majority ilies. order thisresearch, In to conduct aconsiderable amount oftimewas spent inthefield. mer foreign fighters involved directly in conflict, recruitment, andwithmembersoftheirfam- ofthemethodologyincludedKCSS researchers’A crucialpart visitsto andmeetingswithfor from available sources structures. through theKPandotherdomesticsecurity initially gathered themeantime, andstructured. In data onforeign fighters was alsogathered source information onKosovo foreign fighters publishedthrough mediaoutlets various were who have returned home, thosestillfighting, andthosewhoare deceased. The available open methodto gather asmuchinformationa distinct aspossibleonindividualforeign fighters research explores, project anumberofresearch methodswere used. Firstly, theKCSS applied understandingofandgive order toIn ananswer getanin-depth to thequestionthat this 3. Me thodology - - 21 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 22 Occasional paper by KCSS sues undertheinvestigation ofthisproject. semi-academic/scientific) approaches, specificand sensitive inorder is- to discussandtackle to adopt a mix of policy,led the author of this report academic, and scientific (semi-policy/ and individuallevels to “produce” aforeign fighter. Suchamethodological approach hasalso with militant means, andconditions whichinteract onstate, withotherfactors society, family ideological tenets provide theessence ofpeople’s radicalisation andeventual involvement duce a more complete understanding of the issue under investigation. as This was necessary depth analysis ofextremistideologies andreligious inorder ideologies to was pro necessary and analysis isneeded. For instance, research, during iteventually becameclearthat anin- Middle Easternfighters itbecameclearthatconflicts, more inthe comprehensive research however,spective; into whileinquiring thecausesofKosovo citizens’ involvement asforeign Finally, theKCSS initiallybegan thisresearch per from andhumansecurity ageneral security ofthisresearch project. oftheinquiry some aspects anumberofarguments sheddingsome light into inthisreport, KSB was helpfulinsupporting 2014, which included specific questions regarding the issue at hand. from Data the extracted tistical data is drawn from Barometer the Kosovo during (KSB) conducted Security Forth, theKCSS hasadditionallyemployed quantitative research methodswhere specificsta- concept ofjihad, anddifferences insomecasesand vague inothers. between them-strict have significantly helpedinunderstanding theissues related to religion, foreign fighters, the a numberofothersconsulted for ofunderstandingsuchideological thepurposes tenets. They from both, and reports Western were Eastern authorsexhaustedand experts and and Middle areas intheregion.and theAlbanian speaking As aresult, aconsiderable number ofbooks of violent extremists groups and ideological divisions within and between them in Kosovo ideology openedanavenue research for that further ledinto understanding amore in-depth Third, meetingswithformer radicals whichledto ageneral understandingoftheirextremist of Islam. Kosovo, Albania, and Macedonia (including liberal and as conservative), well as practitioners Additionally, formal and informal were interviews with the conducted BIK officials, imamsin Iraq, in and in conflicts orpropagating,Syria such radical groups. facilitating andsupporting withanumberoflawyersalso conducted defending ofbeinginvolved individualssuspected Force,Security andotherformer officialsin relevant were structures. Interviews state security oftheKosovoat theParliamentary Committee andSupervision Affairs, onInternal Security wereligence Unit. Interviews withformer alsoconducted officials atthe KP, officials former within the KP,rorist department the Kosovo Intelligence (KIA), Agency andtheFinancial Intel- wereof interviews withofficialswithinstate conducted structures, whichinclude:the anti-ter nalists whohave more eitherdealt withorreported extensively ontheissueat hand. Anumber ofthemethodology,Secondly, part were interviews andasanecessary withjour conducted theprocessand more oftheirde-radicalisation. importantly olent extremist ideas, theprocess beinginvolved ofactually asa intheconflict foreign fighter, in understandingtheprocess ofone’s radicalisation, theprocess ofjoiningandembracing vi- terms ofidentifying individuals/instruments facilitating violent extremism. They alsohelped O ctober ctober - - - - recommendations. that inoneway oranotherfacilitate violent extremism,andconcludes by providing asetof as foreign fightersIraq. in and Syria alsodiscusses theunintended The consequences report Kosovo to radicalise others, anditsummarizes thegeneral process ofhow individualsendup continues byreport discussingtheinstruments usedby violent extremistgroups inthecaseof involved inreligious theethicalirresponsibility teachings by afew religious authorities. The discussesthat unintentionallythis report produce alinkbetween thetwo, whichinparticular ofreligionizationbetween theimpact violent extremism, there are afew conditions which ly onanindividuallevel to facilitate violent extremism. While significant differences are noted internal domains, italsolooksonhow theyinteract especial- withotherconditions andfactors between thereligionization process andviolent extremisation process and onbothexternal influences of religionization andofviolent extremism. While it attempts to makeadistinction extremisation ontheotherhand. Secondly, itcontinuesat internal conditions by looking and conditionsdiscusses theexternal andinfluences of religionization ontheonehandandviolent After initiallypresenting thegeneral context oftheissueforeign fighters, first the report 23 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 24 Occasional paper by KCSS fromEurope. Western ber continues to grow. isations fightingIraq in is more and Syria than 20,000. isestimated that thenumberofforeignIt fighters that have joinedthemilitantvarious organ- 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 and Albania with30casesofforeign fighters 1millioncitizens. percapita for every amongthe22listed countries, country followedranking by with85,Belgium with42, Bosnia Kosovo has 125 foreign fighters per 1 capita million citizens, it the highest for every making with 600confirmed caseseach. at thesefigures onpercapitabasis,When looking however, by France with 1,200 confirmed cases, andG cases (see Table below). Russiaisranked firstonthelistwith1,500 cases,confirmed followed joined militant organisations inSyria andIraq, Kosovo isranked eighth, rope, theUS,Russia,and Turkey, from whichmostoftheforeign fighters are to have suspected 4. additional fighters have been gathered from two direct communication with police officialsandmedia reports January,during 2014 data. whichwere notincludedintheofficial 20January Theinformation regarding 22 number offoreign fighters from Kosovo was 210.However andadditional22foreign fighters have Kosovo left According 2014data provided to by 20January the Anti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police, Department the able at: http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/table-muslim-population-by-country/ The are population numberofMuslim by estimates country of 2010by thePew Research Center. Onlineavail- Online available at: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html The are numberofpopulation by estimates country ofJuly2014by theCentral Intelligence (CIA). Agency ceeds-20000-surpasses-afghanistan-conflict-1980s/ andPoliticalof Radicalisation Violence (ICSR).http://icsr.info/2015/01/foreign-fighter-total-syriairaq-now-ex These numbersare thehighestestimates ofsecond halfof2014by The InternationalCentre for theStudy number offoreign fighters currently there. table above includeallthosethat have goneto at Syria somepoint andIraq intime;theydonotrepresent the half of2014. This Kosovo’s may slightly impact onthetableabove. ranking addition,thenumbers on the In 2015,whiletheothercasesinclude numbersofthesecondconfirmed cludes confirmed casesuntil January Note needsto betakenonthenumbersfor Kosovo whichare more recent thantheothercases, since itin- syria--gk2635auox available at: http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/record-number-of-foreign-nationals-fighting-in-iraq-and- (2014). Evan Bartlett “Record numberofforeignIraq nationals and fighting in Syria”. The. Online Independent Ibid. ceeds-20000-surpasses-afghanistan-conflict-1980s/ inthe1980s”.conflict ICSR.Onlineavailable at: http://icsr.info/2015/01/foreign-fighter-total-syriairaq-now-ex Peter R.Neumann(2014). “Foreign fighter nowtotal in Syria/Iraq exceeds 20,000;surpasses Afghanistan The c ontext 24 25 These are data estimates from thesecond halfof2014,andthenum- Among the22 Western states whichincludethosethroughout Eu- ermany, and (UK), the United Kingdom Turkey 23 Around ofthese come 4,000,orafifth 26 with232confirmed - - Table 1:Numberofforeign fighters from Western E g 31 thisrespect,KosovoIn isinthebottom halfofthelistcountries (ranked 14 Norway,as Denmark, andSweden. which issecond onthelist;Belgium, whichisthird onthelist, andotherNordic countries such Muslim population. casespercapitamillionofits firmed Finland is followedIreland, by the highestnumberofforeign fightersMuslim population, per capitaofits having 1,667 con- fighters. For instance, Finland is ranked by farthefirstonlistof Western countries with countries that are majority the non-Muslim mostly affected by the phenomenon of foreign of theirrespective becomes populations. Muslim clearthat population itistheMuslim of It to populations, lookatnon-Muslim thenumberofforeign itisnecessary fighters percapita on desire Eastern conflicts religious to jointheMiddle grounds, compared to their respective en that population itismostlytheMuslim ofeachtherespective countries that holdsthe fighters onapercapitabasis. The KCSS haslookedbeyond percapitanumbers. exploring Giv donotspeakmuchaboutthestates mostaffected certainly by thephenomenonof foreign this,Besides thepercapitanumbersofforeign fighters donot cover theentire picture, and countries) withthehighestnumberof foreign fighters percapitaoftheir Muslim respective 15 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 1 Rank 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 reve-jane-myslimane/ Online available- at: http://www.gazetatema.net/web/2012/02/09/regjistrimi-i-popullsise-96-e-kosova azeta Tema (2012). ipopullësisë,“Regjistrimi 96%ekosovarëve myslimanë” February Tema. 9,2012.Gazeta Germany USA Italy Spain Switzerland Macedonia Ireland Turkey Kosovo C United Kingdom Serbia Russia Norway Finland Netherlands France Austria Sweden Denmark Albania Belgium Bosnia ountry 30 600 100 80 100 40 12 30 600 fighters Nr. offoreign 600 70 1,500 60 70 250 1,200 150 180 150 90 440 330 232 27 million) fighters (per Nr. offoreign 7 0 1 2 5 6 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 15 18 18 19 27 30 42 85 125 urope, US,andRussia Balkans, 28 million) Muslim population (per Nr. offoreign fighters per 98 8 17 35 39 51 92 92 130 146 209 211 250 255 274 316 399 417 664 690 698 1,667 29 Spain Turkey Macedonia Albania USA Italy Russia Switzerland C Kosovo Germany United Kingdom Bosnia Serbia France Netherlands Austria Sweden Norway Denmark Belgium Ireland Finland ountry 31 th among22 14 15 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 Rank 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 - 25 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 26 Occasional paper by KCSS gone to Syria, andanumberofotherswere caught by intheirattempt theauthorities to doso. 2015, anadditional16foreign fighters, or7percent compared to the total, were found to have This however, proved to beshort-lived, asafew months after, ormore specificallyinJanuary formerKP raids againstthesuspected foreign fighters anda considerable numberofimams. no foreign fighter to havewas aftermath intheimmediatereported ofthe joinedthe conflict wereefforts being made to helptheopposition forces against Assad’s regime.It appearsthat whenISIS 2012,aperiod wasnot during consolidatedthe conflict andwhenmore ‘sincere’ consolidated and when its recruitment intensified. Alternatively, 31 percent of them joined in themajority,conflict Syria, or54percent, have whenISIS 2013,aperiod was joinedduring eign fighters for whichthedata is available theyare ontheperiod believed to have joinedthe When itcomes to theoverall andmore detailedstatistics onthecaseofKosovo, outof226for do notfightDutch the troops. told suchgangmembersthat theywillnotbeprosecuted for fighting abroad aslongthey 36 35 34 33 32 of the Kurdish forces in order to fight ISIS. that Dutch andG reported regime; there are companies also some private involved security as well. on theKurdish side, andtheformer RussianArmy soldierswhofight onthesideof Assad for payment. there are alsoanumberofmercenaries that were to have reported joinedtherebel groups ofthefighters on joinedthe majority religiousTheconflict overwhelming grounds; however ments facilitating violent extremismandrecruitment. tions and analysis behind this are which deals with instru- made in Chapter 7 of this report fighters compared countries. Muslim populationsMuslim majority to the ofthe Suchassump countries are majority tions ofthenon-Muslim affected more by thephenomenonof foreign population.capita oftheirMuslim There are afew assumptionsonwhy popula- theMuslim instance, isranked lastonthelistofcountries withthehighestnumberofforeign fighters per country,populations. majority beingaMuslim Besides andbesidesbordering ISIS, Turkey, for against ISISinKobane”. O Pleasance JohnHallandChris (2014). “Now G Anthony Faiola (2014). “ 18ae26e885f7 watch?v=uZ6NB6Y PravdaTV (2013). “Syria: Russian mercenaries fight” Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/ ish-mercenaries-fighting-Isil-open-to-murder-charges.html The Telegraph. Onlineavailable at:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11249570/Brit Holehouse(2014). Matthew mercenaries“British fighting Isil ‘open to murder charges’” November 24,2014. fight-against-ISIS-.html Online available at: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2014/11/23/More-British-mercenaries-join- Al Arabiya News (2014). “More British ‘mercenaries’ joinfight againstISIS” November 23,2014.AlArabiya News. article-2798507/now-german-biker-gangs-join-dutch-counterparts-fighting-against-isis-kobane.html views/wp/2014/11/17/german-motorcycle-gang-follows-dutch-bikers-into-fight-against-islamic-state/ vember 17,2014,The Washington Post. Onlineavailable at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/world- 32,33 Most ofthepaidmercenaries Most are theformer Army British soldierswhofight p6q4, https://medium.com/war-is-boring/there-are-russian-mercenaries-fighting-in-syria- G . OnlineAvailable 18,2014.MailOnline ctober at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ erman motorcycleerman gangfollows Dutch bikersinto fight againstIslamic State”. No erman motorcycleerman gangsare joiningthefights in ontheside Syria 36

35 erman biker gangs join their Dutch counterparts infighting bikergangsjointheirDutch counterparts erman It has even that a Dutch been reported prosecutor It 34 It has also been It - - - - 40 39 38 37 fighters, were while the majority dragged into with their husbands. the conflict numbers for Kosovo alsoincludearound 13-14women, onlyafew oftheminvolved asforeign information for thepresent location andstate for 74ofthemor35percent ofthetotal. The available information, 34ofthemor16percent were already whilethere killed, isnoavailable percent are underarrest, while12ofthemor6percent are underhousearrest. O of themor28percent are withtherebel groups inSyria andIraq. Another 32ofthemor15 As for theircurrent location, outof210foreign fighters for whichsuchdata is available, 58 Figure 1:P cluded inthenumberofforeign fighters for thecaseofKosovo. also closeto 20children that were drawn into withtheirparents, theconflict whoare notin- Trust toacertain extent According 2014 data provided to by 20January theAnti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department available at: http://www.zeri.info/aktuale/21333/grate-kosovare-ne-isis-foto/ harra and Anita Kadriu (2014). Xharra andAnita Besiana Kadriu “ Ibid. According 2014data provided to by 20January the Anti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department extreme Secular/ No turstatall eriod whenforeign fighters from Kosovo joinedthe rebel groups inS liberal A lotof trust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

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27 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 28 Occasional paper by KCSS share this understanding”. roots, theyfeel at intelligence theFBIandAmerican that theircounterparts agenciesdon’t recognize that jihadismisan ideological Salafist movement withdeep religious and historical global jihadmovement backinthe1980s, says: “[w]hile European counterterrorism experts with ignorance onthisissue. For instance G illes Kepel, whohasinquired into theorigins ofthe is a potential to backfire (in many, if not in most cases in the it alreadyworld has), when acting Such mistakesandunawareness could leadto counterproductive consequences; thus, there in ofideology,terms finds to bedistinct this report andwhat theystand for. which (otherimams andactivists), (i.e.extremist thorities efforts imams)andviolentextremist between religionization general publicdonotmakecleardistinctions anddecision-makersaswell isevident that asthe policy- exist insideandoutsideofIslam.It ferences between fundamental ideasinreligion andviolent extremistideasinreligion that agenciesandstructures, becauseofthemistakesmadebysecurity beingunaware ofthedif- extremists inKosovo. anddecision-makerswithinstate for This policy- isespeciallyimportant various rebel groups inSyria, butalsothecausesbehindideasofpotential violent religious ideas behindtheproblem, theroot inorder causesnotonlybehindthecallsto to join tackle therefore, isofutmost importance It to firstunderstandthegenesisofproblem andthe created andsuggested from bothsidesinsuchdebates. the ideasbehindproblem. As aresult, alotofprejudices anddisparagements have been the case, plausibly, sofaraboutthegenesisofproblem becauselittlehasbeenknown and have been given on how address to the problem actually in Kosovo level. on a policy This is liberal on the one side and religious secularists on conservatives the other side, no proposals instigated heated debates in Kosovo. However, besides producing two extreme positions – addressed to the citizens of Kosovo to join various extremist rebel groups in Syria have also things, around 96percent ofitspopulation belongto theIslamicfaith.Understandably, calls ing thefights in shouldbeofanutmost Syria concern for Kosovo, given that, amongother Finally, groups callsonbehalf ofIslamby andindividuals asajustification certain for join- Figure 2:Currently known of foreign location fighters from Kosovo (n=210) 42 41 Trust toacertainextent pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline . Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ According 2014 data provided to by 20January theAnti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 6 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof 0 No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

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46 45 ing measures have beentaken: under theveil of war”.“holy According institutionsinKosovo, to oneofthesecurity thefollow violent extremistideas againstpersonswhoare insupporting active as anumberofactions Until now, Kosovo extremism hastakenanumberofstepsto fight violent initsefforts as well discussesinitssubsequent consequences chapters.ductive asthisreport beliefs, whendealingwiththeproblem ofviolent extremism,inorder to prevent counterpro cially between fundamental religious andbeliefs practices andviolent and extremist practices understanding ofideological divisions, ofhavingillustrate espe anin-depth theimportance 44 43 it mean. in1997meetings and Salafists Washington” nobody raised the word andaskedwhat does close tiesto France’s intelligence community, saidthat whenhe usingtheword“began Salafi and acts, andmoreand acts, efforts. importantly, potential de-radicalisation it could curtail could significantly jeopardise boththeprevention extremist andthefight againstviolent ideas ideas andideologies, andespecially drawing cleardistinctions, generalisations without making charges brought againstthem. under housearrest, beingmonitored, orreleased completely, dueto thelackofevidence for the 80 individualsundersimilarsuspicions, whilemore than60percent were released; theyare either The total numberofindividualsarrested, data accordingincludemore than to thelatest (January) of incitement through hate andracist speechinKosovo: ers, imams, andotherextremistactivists. The groups below were alsoarrested undersuspicion theextremistcause, foreign including:suspected inSyriarectly orsupporting fighters, recruit Additionally, dozens ofpeoplewere arrested underthesuspicionofeitherbeinginvolved di- • • • • • • • • • • • • • According 2014 data provided to by 20January theAnti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department Ibid. Interview with a high official of one of the security agenciesinKosovo, withahigh officialofonethesecurity Interview 27O Ibid. While 13othersare ontherun On 17September 2014–there were 15individuals arrested; On 11August 2014–there were 47individuals arrested; On 26June2014–there were 4individualsarrested; On 5November 2013–there were 5 individualsarrested (1ontherun); and outsidethestate; Prevention orcooperation within ofextreme actions theseactions by groups supporting thereturned foreignInterviewing fighters by theKosovo Police; Syria; ( callsnotto jointheconflict Education ofandprovision ofinformation for Kosovo citizens regarding in theconflicts foreignCooperation andintelligence withotherpartner security services; vant state institutionsinaccordance withthe “Watch List”; Application ofacomprehensive approach against extremismincooperation withrele extremist ideas, inaccordance withthe– “Stop List”; offoreignBanning theentry individualswhoare to have violent suspected supported ofthereturned foreign ofactivities Monitoring fighters; ofviolent extremistsuspects; ofactivities Monitoring 43 This however, is not the case with reference agencies in 2015, they to such security 46 Therefore, beingunaware understandingonspecific oforlacking 44 G overnment, media,etc.); BIK, 45 ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. - - - - - 29 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 30 Occasional paper by KCSS Prince through Saud hisfollowers. endorse al-Wahhab’s religious thoughts, whileal-Wahhab was to give to politicallegitimacy was to dealwiththereligious affairsofthenewstate. This meant that Saud Prince was to power-sharing agreement where Prince was Saud to dealwithpoliticalaffairsandal-Wahhab tion inIslam. local ideasandclaimswhichindicate Arabia Saudi asthecore cause. causes andinfluences ofviolentto dealwithglobaland ideas,extremist itisinitiallynecessary dealswithinlength.Beforeplex, whichthisreport moving on to identifying thecore extremism andviolent extremistgroups findssuchanissue to bemuchmore inSyria. It com- Kosovo, butitdoesnotfind to bethecore and in widelyspreadingand practices more inand around ideasandpractices conservative ognizes Arabia ofSaudi thestrong inintroducing impact more religious conservative ideas in Syria. however,This report, findsthat the root ofviolent ideaselsewhere.extremist It rec promoting suchideasinKosovo, andpushingpeopletowards suchviolent extremistgroups haveciety continued pointing version at andSaudi theSaudis ofIslamasthemainsource for ticular includingISISandJabhat themedia,andmembersofcivilso al-Nusra, policymakers, When thecitizens ofKosovo beganjoiningtheviolent extremist rebel groups inSyria, inpar behind spreading suchanideologyglobally, andKosovo inparticular. includingtheBalkans bia, not only as the root religious of modern extremism and violence, but also as the machine tremism goals. ortheuseofviolent meansto reach particular They mostlypoint at Ara Saudi - A numberofstudiesandresearch papershave dealtwiththegenesisofIslamicreligious ex 50 49 48 47 made an alliance to formSaudi state, the first then called the Emirate of Diriyah. Saudi statefirst in1744whenal-Wahhab, anIslamicscholar, and Saud Muhammad bin Prince Arabia’sSaudi identification with religious datesextremism back to theestablishment ofthe 5.1. accordance with this agreement. Al-Wahhab was an Islamic Salafi the Hanbalite madhhab 5. Hallaq (1997). “A H refer Some to madhhabas “school of thought”, willbereferring butthisreport to itas school”“legal from Wael with theProphet, asthe mostcredible references inIslamic interpretation. will follow thelatter”. isacallto to Muslims follow It theexample ofthosefirstthree generations beginning best peopleare“the thoselivinginmy generation, andthenthosewhowillfollow them,andthenthosewho from deriving ahadith(Prophet isanIslamicdoctrine Salafism Mohammad’s sayings anddeeds)whichsays: pages/frontline/shows/saud/cron/ PBS(2005). “A Chronology: The HouseofSaud”PBS: Frontline . Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ Anderson (1983). Dalrymple SirJamesNorman “ Arabia” ofSaudi The Kingdom . Stacey International. p.77 ernalExt c T he roots ofconservative religious ideas istory ofIslamic Legal istory Theories” Cambridge Press University . (legal school) onditons and influences 48 Today’s Arabia Saudi in continues to andfunction inherit 50 withinfiqh causeofpullingpeopletowards ordirect violent (Islamic jurisprudence) oftheSunnitradi- 49 scholar who belonged to 47 This was a external external - - - - a fatwa (religiousa fatwa opinion)againsttheMongols tion, anddespite thelatter’s conversion into Islam,Ibn Taymiyyah was thefirst to have issued 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 For instance, a13 ries, andeventually becamepopular withthereligious teachings that theydrew from Hanbal. this,Besides Hanbalhadamajorinfluence onother religious scholarsinthe following centu- period hewasperiod living in. tablish circumstantial rulesthat deviated from trueIslam. and that the true Islam is topects look back at its roots and not allow following scholars to es- within theSunnitradition. Hanbalism isgenerally recognized ofthefour asthemostconservative majorlegalschools lished, and it was Ibn found Imam after more around active 200years thedeath ofProphet after Muhammad. tions and interpretations him more fundamentalist – making disregarding andcallingfor ofanalogical theprinciple deduction areturn to tradi theearlier - method believingthat theuseofanalogical dedication wasthe faith, eventually undermining on newcircumstances that were notpresent orforeseen before. Hanbalchallenged this Imam tion, itallows interpretation peopleto decideonacertain oftheQuran andtheHadithbased Quran, theSunnah,andsayings oftheProphet’s companions. usinganalogical By deduc (qiyasanalogical deduction ) to answer theological questions that could not be found in the the other legal schools, especially practice. readings. where the jihadagainstthem. ti-Mongol” Fatwas”. ofChicago) University . p.105 MamlukStudiesReview (The Aigle (2007). Denise Invasions andIbn Mongol of Bilādal-Shāmby GhāzānKhān Taymīyah’s“The Three “An- ofEurope and parts This Empire waswhentheMongol theperiod occupied vast territoriesaround East, Asia, includingtheMiddle Ibid. International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ uk/islam/understanding-islamic-law/the-four-sunni-schools/ for Message (n.d.). Muslims Four SunniSchools”.“The Onlineavailable at: http://www.message4muslims.org. International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ uk/islam/understanding-islamic-law/the-four-sunni-schools/ for Message (n.d.). Muslims Four SunniSchools”.“The Onlineavailable at: http://www.message4muslims.org. extremism orviolent extremism asitisusuallyemployed inpublic Fundamentalism at thefundaments ofreligion, isunderstood aslooking anditdoesnotrefer inthisreport to Ibid. uk/islam/understanding-islamic-law/the-four-sunni-schools/ for Message (n.d.). Muslims Four SunniSchools”.“The Onlineavailable at: http://www.message4muslims.org. International Affairs . MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ anbali had left and further promoted his and conservative traditional teachingsand further and Hanbali had left 55 58 Hanbalalsochallengedotherlegalschools, believingthemto beinadequate for the Hewas alsoofthebeliefthat (predecessors) theSalafis hadanswers for alllegalas- th century Islamic scholar and jurist, Ibn Ibn Islamicscholarandjurist, century Taymiyyah (1263-1328),pickedup lobalization and the Rise of Salafism in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How Gulf Countries a Spearheaded 56 61 , 57 e declared jihad against the Mongols to be compulsory notonly Hedeclared to jihadagainsttheMongols becompulsory

51 , 52 Hanbalismwas thelastoffour legalschoolsto beestab Hanafism (institutionalized by the BIK in Kosovo) which uses Hanbal (780–855), an Islamic scholar that lived and was 60 (Muslim converts), (Muslim andhepersonallyjoined 59 Living under the Mongol occupa LivingundertheMongol - 54 in religious interpretation and 53 Hanbalismchallenged - - 31 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 32 Occasional paper by KCSS which this report discusses in the followingwhich this report chapters. nian pilot, they quoted Ibn nian pilot, theyquoted Ibn Taymiyyah oftheirjustification to doso. aspart state even ifitisMuslim”. “Allah aidsthejuststate even yet ifitisnon-Muslim, withholdsH on letters, Ibn Taymiyyah stance hastakenaprincipled ontheinterpretation ofIslam,saying: violent of such influential religious scholars (i.e. the numerous conditions they applied before issuing such scholars, whichdoeshappenat times, buttheydonotusetheentire bodyofteachings other violent extremistgroups. ligious teachings have been widely quoted to have stimulated the likes of Al Qaida and the Ibn Taymiyyah isconsidered to beoneofthemostinfluential scholars, whosenameand re which meansitwas notto beissuedfor aggression lands. outsideofMuslim 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 yyah, to justifytheirviolentyyah, acts. status ofwidelyaccepted andthecelebrity religious primacy scholarsinIslam,likeIbn Taymi- the extremist groups times use the and in contemporary and individuals throughout history at thetime), because theydidnotfollow (theyfollowed theSharia the in theregion, Mustafa Tërniqi,Durrës,Mosques in aninfluential imaminoneofthe Albania, (when manipulated by others). To demonstrate areas thisinthecaseofAlbanian speaking to intentionally ignore (whenmanipulating others)andmore unintentionally by followers would bereceived by G then, to an individualendeavour, whereby individualfighting Muslims infidelsandbad every is that hesetaprecedent jihadfrom ofturning acollective activity, asitwas considered until Ibn Ibn Taymiyyah (n.d.) “Letters from Prison”. taymiyya/ Students. Onlineavailable at: http://www.e-ir.info/2013/10/15/assessing-al-qaeda-from-the-teachings-of-ibn- Camille Mulcaire (2013). “Assessing from the al-Qaeda Teachings ofIbn Taymiyya” E-International Relations ing-pow-jordanian-pilot/ 3, 2015.Shoebat.com. Onlineavailable at: http://shoebat.com/2015/02/03/watch-horrific-video-isis-burn- Shoebat Foundation (2015). “Watch The Horrific Most POWJordanianBy ISISBurning Video Pilot”. February https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRgm85xQhNI University ofNottingham(2011). Study...Ibn“Why Taymiyya, withJonHoover”. Youtube. Onlineavailable at: able at: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/08/religious-origins-of-islamic-extremism.html# (2014). Khilkhal Shukur “IS emerges from radical Islamicjurisprudence” June30,2014.AlMonitor. Onlineavail- International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ site/jhoover363/taymiyyan-studies/jihad-against-the-mongols JonHoover (n.d.). “Jihad andtheMongols”. Taymiyyan Studies. Onlineavailable at: https://sites.google.com/ taymiyya/ Students. Onlineavailable at:http://www.e-ir.info/2013/10/15/assessing-al-qaeda-from-the-teachings-of-ibn- Camille Mulcaire (2013). “Assessing from the al-Qaeda Teachings ofIbn Taymiyya” E-International Relations McFarland andCo. Publishers. P.79. Hunt JaninandAndre (2007). Kahlmeyer “Islamic Law: The from Sharia Muhammad’s Time to thePresent”. ) to support theirviolent (usuallydefensive)fatwas) to support For acts. instance,- inoneofhispris 62 , 63 butalsobecauseheconsidered -thefirstdeviated themto beKharijites group lobalization and the Rise of Salafism in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded od asmartyrs. 70 This issomethingthat violent extremistgroups andpreachers tend 66,67. 69 It isnotthat theextremistgroups It andindividualsmisquote

For example, more recently, alive whenISISburned aJorda- 65 During Ibn Ibn During Taymiyyah’s jihadwas period stilldefensive, 64 about his What was particular Y asa code of laws ofG is helpfrom theoppressive 68 However, many of enghis Khan enghis Khan fatwa -

Islam through theruleofSharia. Empire at thetimewere corrupting Islam;whichmeans, theywere thetrue notpracticing Ibn Taymiyyah’s casewiththeMongols, al-Wahhab believed that therulersofO Taymiyyah, thecircumstances andconditions underwhichtheylived were similar. Similarto and was consequently influenced by him. Although helived around Ibn four centuries after in today’s Arabia. Saudi Abd al-Wahhab was anotherHanbalite who admired Ibn Taymiyyah This isalsothecasewithal-Wahhab (1703-1792),whoseteachings lay thebasisofIslamicfaith friendship emulation, friendship cordialitytowards andaffability them. with thekuffar (unbelievers), butalsotheiremployment, consultation, trust, visiting, advice, Abdallah b. b. Muhammad Ábd al Wahhab, wrote that “Wahhabism notonlybansany alliance the fighting in andwhySyria, suchaninvolvement doesnotfulfilthe conditions forjihad. has quoted Ibn Taymiyyah whenarguing before hiscongregation onwhy oneshouldnotjoin 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 tions withthoseoftoday’s ISIS. thought itshouldbepracticed. Today, al-Wahhab’s someeven goasfarlinking ideasandac ers who he believed were Islam in a form practicing even remotely different from the way he readings and understanding of Ibn Taymiyyah, oth- to stimulated kill him to see itas necessary O sula where al-Wahhab lived at thetime. had brought to Arabia, Saudi althoughtheO ticed it. Hewas againstthecultural influence that the O dedicated alotofenergy in “refuting thecharges leviedagainsthim”. cies. Arabia to pray at Mecca”, says Alastair Crooke, agen- a formerBritish security official of one of ing, hashishimbibing, drumpoundingEgyptian andO verwhelming western scholarsandIslamicopponentsverwhelming ofhisideaswere ofthebeliefthat his 73 Ibid., p.10 the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online Alastair Crooke (2014). “ rebeluar tyre?”. kundër Mburoja.net. Mbruoja.net(n.d.). “A ekonsideronte ibnAbdulvehabi Muhamed Perandorinë sishtet renegatësh dheaishte the-partnership-of-extremists/ 2012. Iqra. Onlineavailable Online at: http://www.iqraonline.net/ibn-taymiyah-ibn-abdul-wahab-ibn-saud- (2012). eImran Aal “Ibn Taymiyah, Abdul Ibn Wahab Saud: &Ibn The Partnership ofExtremists”. 5, January Alastair Crooke (2014). “ International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Online available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-fjncv78JU LidhjaeHoxhallarëve (2014). “Hoxhe Mustafa Terniqi perxhihadneSiri?” -Sitakuptojme thirrjen Youtube. isis-wahhabism-saudi-arabia_b_5717157.html bia” August 27,2014.The Huffington Post. Onlineavailable at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alastair-crooke/ isis-wahhabism-saudi-arabia_b_5717157.html bia” August 27,2014.The Huffington Post.Onlineavailable at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alastair-crooke/ Al-Wahhab saw theseasdeviations from trueIslamandtheway have theSalafis prac lobalization and the Rise of Salafism in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded Y Y ou Can’t UnderstandISISIf ou Can’t UnderstandISISIf 76 Oneoftheinfluential descendants ofal-Wahhab, Suleyman b. 72 Al-Wahhab despised decorous,“the arty, tobacco smok , p.11 74 , 75

ttomans did not rule over the part ofthePeninttomans didnotruleover thepart - Y Y ou Don’t theH Know ou Don’t theH Know ttoman nobility whotravelledttoman nobility across ttoman Empire (more liberal Hanafi) 77 However, al-Wahhab himself istory of istory Wahhabism Ara inSaudi - of istory Wahhabism Ara inSaudi - 78

ttoman 71

- - - 33 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 34 Occasional paper by KCSS 87 86 85 84 83 82 81 80 79 the previous Islamicscholarswhohave influenced him,whencalling for anoffensive jihad grounds that many violent extremist groups andorganisations have quoted al-Wahhab and Those wholink Wahhabism canbejustified, to ruthlessviolent albeit acts reservedly, onthe did not find anything like thisin al-Wahhab’s works/books would findalotofviolence, calling for jihad, andlabellingallnon-Wahhabists askuffar, she many historians claiming that histeachers spokeofhimwithmuchnegative critique.” he waswrite soon to that even espouse, the doctrine his former with teachers did not support destruction that outby was [al-Wahhab] carried destruction followers”. andhisearly ofthe imagery Wahhabis comes from al-Wahhab’s opponents andfrom oftomb thepractice against thosewhotheycallunbelievers –that isnon-Wahhabis. Also, muchofthenegative lived. ing, she moves on to call him the Luther of Islam”,“Martin for which he during the period like tomb andsaint veneration, ofblindfollowing rejection infavour ofindependent reason- Wahhabism. While confirming his calls to eradicate “erroneous” popular religious practices, ton D.C., Natana DeLong Bas, attempted to dispelthemostimportant Western myths about For instance, oneofal-Wahhab’s biographers earlier from G a scholar, andhow al-Wahhab and Wahhabism iscurrently associated withviolent extremism. resonates withviolent extremism.Suchpolemicsderive from how al-Wahhab as isdescribed get associated with Wahhabism asaterm (later developed), whichimmediately andeasily polemics between the Salafi (morepolemics between theSalafi imamsinKosovo conservative) and consequently thesocalled Wahhabi Movement. issuchconfusions that prompt It alotof There isalotofconfusion, inthewest, andespeciallyinKosovo regarding al-Wahhab’s works distance themselves from al-Wahhab asascholar, on the other hand. imams ofsociety Salafi tend not moreto liberal imams and the secular part of thetime. bi-founder/ - http://thewahhabithreat.com/wahhabism/history-of-wahhabi-ism/the-factual-bioagraphy-of-the-wahha Natana DeLong Al-Tayyar”. Musaid Bas:By The SimpleTruth. pp.54-60 Al-Tayyar Musaid (2014). Abdul “Muhammad Ibn Wahhab: Biography. anIntellectual withDr. Interview Mrs beginning ofthe20 preters andinternal conditions Eastinthe basedonexternal (more whoacted ones)intheMiddle modern Note that ‘offensive jihad’ came to beusedaround 150 al-Wahhab’syears after death, by more radical inter Natana DeLong Al-Tayyar”. Musaid Bas:By The SimpleTruth. pp.54-60 Al-Tayyar Musaid (2014). Abdul “Muhammad Ibn Wahhab: Biography. anIntellectual withDr. Interview Mrs have violent languagetowards the non-Wahhabists For instance, shelookedat theinfamousbookofal-Wahhab al-Tawhid”,“Kitab whichisquoted by many to Natana DeLong Al-Tayyar”. Musaid Bas:By The SimpleTruth. pp.54-60 Al-Tayyar Musaid (2014). Abdul “Muhammad Ibn Wahhab: Biography. anIntellectual withDr. Interview Mrs qene-ne-sherbim-te-atdheut-2-49774.html Telegrafi.com. Onlineavailable at: http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/enes-goga-hoxhallaret-cdo-here-kane- Telegrafi.com (2014). “EnesG Hanafi tradicional”. Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7whtd-l_Vs Arnavut Deniz (2014). “Kundërpërgjigje Vehabistit Shefqet dhearmiqëve Krasniqit të tjerë të medhhebit ground inprinciple. the term “Salafi”extremists, becauseoftheusuallinkthatSalafis and madebetween whichdoesnothold shouldbenoted that imamsinKosovo theSalafi It are notkeenanddoseek to identify themselves with 82 DeLong Bas, seesal-Wahhab asanIslamicreformist, hypothesising andafter that she 84

th century. oga: Hoxhallarët, të qenënëshërbim çdo atdheut“. herë kanë August 25,2014. 80 , 81 anditisbecauseofthisthat theyusually 83 nor in Western travellers accounts eorgetown University in Washing- 79 ontheonehand, andthe 86 There are thosewho 87 - 85

allocate shares to ofinheritance fairly women that hefound histime. inNajdduring ence at thetimeto theplight ofwidows, lackofattention prayers, to obligatory andfailure to return to thefundamental ofIslamcameouthisconcern practices regarding theindiffer 94 93 92 88 91 90 89 immediately NAT after in Kosovo themid1990sbutmore beganduring intensively from thesecond halfof1999, Saudi ArabiaSaudi especially forlook ultra-conservative, a 21 ing two ideologues, world whichinthemodern makesal-Wahhab in anditsofficial practice logue ofthepurification ofIslamand“back tothe roots” reference propagated by the follow isthelinkbetween Hanbal–Ibn It Taymiyyah –al-Wahhab, thefirstbeingsupreme ideo groups to quote and(mis)usehisreligious to justifytheirviolent acts. authority status asanIslamicscholar, andcelebrity his personality have stimulated violent extremist al-Wahhab’s conservative to“back theroots” religious teachings andthoughts combined with ate anti-Wahhabi polemic, denouncingthe “blindly Wahhabi movement”. However, there are voices who say that such a link is made mostly out of ignorance to- perpetu casions whenjihadwas calledfor”, andthat hecalledfor jihadonlyfor defensive purposes. that al-Wahhabasserts even placed onthefew onviolence“limitations anddestruction oc aboutal-Wahhab’stalking treatise onjihad, The G tion of human life is the most important obligation of theMuslim.”tion of human life is the mostimportant Accordingly, al-Wahhab ofhumanlife- andtaught that“believed thepreserva inthesanctity a lotofconcerns amongsecularstates. throughout the world,nation of its doctrine since the 1970s when oil prices boomed, raised tionalization ofal-Wahhab’s asareligious Arabia inSaudi practice doctrine andthedissemi- ate religious provided instruction, that they were not atheists.” be allowedprisoner to their own practice religion and provide their children with appropri- allow for children to beseparated from theirparents andheeven required that familiestaken Basha, who has written on the dissemination globally and in Kosovo,of Salafism Saudi Arabia 18 O withH.aformer longtimeemployee Interview invarious Arab organisations sponsored inKosovo, charity International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. p.24 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Online available at: http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/loc/sa/wahhabi.htm The Air University (1992). Arabia:“Saudi Wahhabi Theology”. Arabia. ofCongress StudyonSaudi Library Country Al-Wahhabiyya M.R.Rida, wa H ‘l- Ibid. Ibid. Natana DeLong Al-Tayyar”. Musaid Bas:By The SimpleTruth. pp.54-60 Al-Tayyar Musaid (2014). Abdul “Muhammad Ibn Wahhab: Biography. anIntellectual withDr. Interview Mrs Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. p.10 ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How GulfCountries a Spearheaded O ceased its operationtargets. against Serbian ijaz. In IsaBlumi(2005). ijaz. In “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban 93 The dissemination Arabia’s ofSaudi Hanbalidoctrine eorgetown University Professor, DeLong Bas st century secular state. century The institu- 91 O 90 verall, al-Wahhab’s calls to For instance, “[H]e did not 94 According to Dimal 88 For instance, when 92 O verall, 89 - - - -

35 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 36 Occasional paper by KCSS or religious practitioners, butitincludedmedicalstaffas well. scholarships andfinancialaid Saudi to studyinArabia, andthis was notonlylimited to imams the dissemination religious ofitsconservative practices. According to Arabia Saudi anumberofreports, hasemployed variousinstruments to facilitate 5.2. 106 105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 vo’s rural areas, 1999. allbuiltafter nanced organisations have more than30specialized Koranic alsosupported schoolsinKoso governing institutionsthat were 1999underUNMIK. establishedafter They have alsoprovided financialaid to clinical centres, universities, as well as to thelocal destroyed the war, during to build new schools, mosques, print religious books, etc. organisations andfoundationsof charity provided housesthat financialaid wereto re-build ideology” asatool to increase theirinfluence worldwide, andithasdonesoinKosovo. thathas builtinternational networks have advocacy propagated their “Islamic fundamentalist International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ available at: https://zeri.info/ekonomia/489/milionat-e-al-haramain-ne-kosove-foto/ Llapashtica Liridon (2014). e “Milionat “Al Haramain” nëKosovë (Foto)” O the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online available at: https://zeri.info/ekonomia/489/milionat-e-al-haramain-ne-kosove-foto/ Llapashtica Liridon (2014). e “Milionat “Al Haramain” nëKosovë (Foto)” O 18 O withH.aformer longtimeemployee Interview invarious Arab organisations sponsored inKosovo, charity International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online available at: https://zeri.info/ekonomia/489/milionat-e-al-haramain-ne-kosove-foto/ Llapashtica Liridon (2014). e “Milionat “Al Haramain” nëKosovë (Foto)” O phantis.com/blogs/ioannis-michaletos/balkan-and-syria-nexus (2014). IoannisMichaletos andSyria nexus”.“Balkan May 18,2014.Phantis. Onlineavailable at: http://www. the-partnership-of-extremists/ 2012. Iqra. Onlineavailable Online at: http://www.iqraonline.net/ibn-taymiyah-ibn-abdul-wahab-ibn-saud- (2012). eImran Aal “Ibn Taymiyah, Abdul Ibn Wahab Saud: & Ibn The Partnership ofExtremists”. 5, January Roy Oliver (2006). “ International Affairs . MasterofAts thesis. p.23 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ lenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program inInternational Affairs . MasterofAts thesis. inKosovo. ofSalafism the Rise How Gulf Countries a Spearheaded Transitional Advocacy that Network isChal- ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. D issemination ofconservative religious ideasinKosovo Globalized Islam:theSearch for anewUmmah”. DimalBasha(2013). In “ lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How GulfCountries a Spearheaded in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How Gulf Countries a Spearheaded 104 Another instrument that was usedwas theprovision of , p.15 97,98. In thecaseofKosovo,In anumber 105106 Gazeta Zëri. 2,2014.Gazeta ctober Online Zëri. 2,2014. Gazeta ctober Online Zëri. 2,2014.Gazeta ctober Online

103 Saudi basedandfi- Saudi Globalization and 99 , 100 95,96 , 101

, 102 -

tradition andreligious culture aswell asmanagement andorganisation oftheBIK”. structure have “carried outreligious informs contradicted andmannersthat activities often localIslamic oftheBIKAssembly,chairperson organisations noted thatinKosovo basedcharity theSaudi benefits they were providing with the attendance of their lectures. organisations and hasconfirmed basedcharity thatthe Saudi theydid condition thecharity brought religious to inKosovo. scholarsasmissionaries lecture Aformer employee ofone tinued to andpromoteorganisations practice inKosovo basedcharity them.Saudi have also took such teachings andmore religious conservative backhomewhere practices theycon- more teaching conservative thanwhat was previously understood ofIslaminKosovo. They Arabia.in Saudi Through this, they associate more withIslamvia a to“back the roots” and Kosovo whohave visited Arabia andstudiedinSaudi were influenced by religious practices 110 109 112 111 108 107 Just likethecasewithothercountries just becausehewas considered whofought anAlbanian Christian O againstMuslim (Albanian Scanderbeg national hero)them mocking statue andcalling him kafir before asitistoday. For instance, two young have menfrom Kaçanik posted avideothat shows as challenging Albanian national andhistoric symbols, whichhasnotsoopenlybeenthecase tive ofIslamhave practitioners beenevident inthepost-war Kosovo. ofthemgoasfar Some Negative attitudes towards otherswhoembrace values that are different- to that of conserva in Kosovo has caused splits in Kosovo’s religious community. lamic community. Isa Blumi claimed that the introductioninterpretation of the Saudi of Islam tive religious ideasinKosovo isbelieved to have hadseveral implications for Kosovo anditsIs- attempts theways to deconstruct inwhichtheyinteract. The- introduction ofmore conserva with violent extremistideas–since there are differences also between them,whilethis report will continue to note, fundamental/conservative religious ideasshouldnotbeinstantly mixed alized liberal interpretation of Islam based on the based ontheHanbalilegalschooldidhave aninfluence inchallenging Kosovo’s institution- Arabia’sSaudi ofitsfundamental/conservative interpretation dissemination efforts ofIslam disseminate more theirreligious easilyandefficiently. doctrine advancement of technology has also made it possible for Arabia’s Saudi to networks advocacy International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Ibid. International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. p.29 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online 18 O withH.aformer longtimeemployee Interview invarious Arab organisations sponsored inKosovo, charity the-partnership-of-extremists/ 2012. Iqra. Onlineavailable Online at: http://www.iqraonline.net/ibn-taymiyah-ibn-abdul-wahab-ibn-saud- (2012). eImran Aal “Ibn Taymiyah, Abdul Ibn Wahab Saud: &Ibn The Partnership ofExtremists”. 5, January ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. lobalization and the Rise of Salafism in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How GulfCountries a Spearheaded , p.12 107 , itisbelieved that many religious in practitioners Hanafi legal school. 111 Similarly, 109,110

108 However, as this report In the meantime, In the Xhabir Hamiti, former (unbeliever), ttomans 112

37 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 38 Occasional paper by KCSS Deobandi movement,Deobandi whichwas created inresponse to intheIslamiccommunity thecrisis For instance, the Taliban group) (a violent andultra-conservative inAfghanistan belong to a several contradictions existing withinsuchdebates. intoquiring theideas, asthefirstmajorcause, that takepeople to Syria. This is so becauseof version) legalschoolscould result ingiving andgeneralized incorrect conclusions, whenin- differences that exist between Hanafi(Kosovo version) andHanbali/Wahhabi Arabia (Saudi However, findsthatforcausesofviolent looking withintheschismsor extremism thisreport anity andnotIslam. anity Mother Theresa’s secure place “in themiddleofhell”, justbecauseshehasembraced- Christi radical noramoderate, andIslamicjurisprudence. butascholarwhohasstudiedtheSharia and inKosovo theysay “beware ofhim-theSalafi”, that heisneithera andacknowledges says, Sogojeva hisstudiesinRiyadh, During theArabs were saying at him-theHanafi”,“look other hand, indicated Sogojeva that thishasnothingto dowiththelegalschoolhefollows. one cannot go to heaven Muslim. without first being a interpretation andcorrect takethisasnormal Muslims of practicing becauseofthe beliefthat ofthesociety.the national andsecularelement ofthemajority Ontheotherhand, anumber of the population) and Albaniantake this as an offence, Christians because it touches upon especially theissueofwomen, holidays ofotherfaiths, etc. haveSalihu alsospokennegatively againstsomevalues that thesecularpopulation embrace, 119 118 117 116 115 114 113 at andsome of hisfollowers timespeoplelikeSogojeva attitudes. holddestructive cording to Bilalli,thisiscreating confusions andschismswithintheIslamiccommunity, and back inthe15 commensurate withtheinstitutionalized inKosovo practices oftheHanafilegalschool. talked of Fadil Islam differently another imam, as Sogojeva, practicing in ways which do not For instance, Bilalli,theheadof Idriz Worker’s UnionoftheIslamicCommunity (WUIC), Arabia’s of Saudi practices institutionalized version of Islam pose to tremism has tended to focus on the challenges that the introduction of As anddebate aresult, inKosovo muchofthepublishedreports regarding thesources ofex religiousspeech, andacorrect stance basedonIslam. Islamconsider thistoespecially someofthosepracticing beboththeissueoffreedom of task to deal withassomeargue that thisshouldbeconsidered ashate speech,whileothers, Ibid. Ibid. at: http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/radikalizimi-i-islamit-rrezik-apo-fobi-2-24418.html Telegrafi.com (2012).Rrezik iislamit: apo fobi?“ August 17,2012.Telegrafi.com. “Radikalizimi Onlineavailable youtube.com/watch?v=Y Islamifeja e Vërtetë (2011). “Shën Valentini Mazllami”. -Mazllam Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www. Ibid. watch?v=IML-QbHOmVs Anon. (2009). “Dr.Shefqet per Krasniqi Terrzezën”. Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/ erbeut-ne-kacanik/ - Express.2014. Gazeta Onlineavailable at: http://lajmifundit.al/2014/06/xhihadistet-sulmojne-bustin-e-skend G azeta Express (2014). “ th century. 115 Many non-practicing Albanian Muslims (which comprise the majority Albanian(whichcomprise Many themajority Muslims non-practicing hihadistët shajnë dhe godasin bustin e Skënderbeut në Kaçanik (Video)”Xhihadistët nëKaçanik shajnëdhegodasinbustineSkënderbeut June30, S-NnughspE 113 Shefqet animaminPrishtina Krasniqi, O thers like Mazllam Mazllami and Irfan and Irfan Mazllami thers like Mazllam 116. This hasbeenachallenging anafi practices in Kosovo.Hanafi practices 114 hasalsospokenabout Hanbali and Wahhabi 118 Onthe 117 Ac 119 - -

schools asameansofreforming society”. the Deobandi sect andthe sect the Deobandi Taliban followers are strict oftheHanafilegal code. considered more liberal andmostopento individualinterpretation (ijtihad)initsteachings, questions. fundamentalist/conservative andrigid wheninterpreting varioustheological andpractical shown intablebelow, whencompared to theHanafilegalschool for instance, makesitmore the Hanbalilegalschooleffectively rulesoutanalogical reasoning to reach conclusions, as acts. school isalsofollowed inPakistan, for aplace whichisknown muchviolent religious extremist entirety ofIslam. limit themselves withinonelegalschool, asonlyoneoftheseschoolsdoesnotconstitute the 128 127 126 125 124 123 122 121 120 in reaching anopinionoranswering questions. specifictheological andpractical sources eachofthefour founders oftheIslamiclegalschoolswithinSunnitradition used The maindifference between thelegalschools remains withthemethodstheyapply, andthe in the19 in allquestionsandmatters. the founder andleaderoftheAfghan Taliban. ambassador to theUnited States sinceOmar,Muhammad Mullah 2011)isaHanafi,andso (appointed Rehman Pakistan’s anotherexample,In theliberal female Sherry politicalactivist people’s involvement inSyria orvariousviolent extremistgroups. ruling themoutinotherswould not, therefore, beacredible avenue to findtheideasbehind bali). between Hanafiinterpretations and Han- andtheotherthree Maliki majorlegalschools(Shafi, gram at theStimson Centre, that there are asserted onlysubtledifferences for themostpart 122 (767-820), and Imam Ibn Hanbal(780–855). Ibn (767-820), andImam Ash-Shafi’i binAnas (711–795),Imam Malik the time, Abu Hanifa(699–767),Imam andtheyincludeImam The four majorlegalschoolssinthe Sunnitradition were founded great andnamedafter Islamicscholarsat com/school_of_thought.htm#1._Schools_of_thought_ IslamicIslamic(n.d.). &Legal“Madhab school” IslamicIslamic. Onlineavailable at: http://www.islamicislamic. pers/Understanding%20the%20Taliban.pdf for Internatioanl Studies. Onlineavailable at: http://subweb.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/ReligionViolencePa- Joshua White (2012). “Understanding the Taliban: Assessing Religious Categories ofAnalysis”. Institute Danish ber 2014.Mitrovica, Kosovo. withA.E, aKosovo basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto Interview aHanafilegalschool, 22Novem- pers/Understanding%20the%20Taliban.pdf for Internatioanl Studies. Onlineavailable at: http://subweb.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/ReligionViolencePa- Joshua White (2012). “Understanding the Taliban: Assessing Religious Categories ofAnalysis”. Institute Danish Uhlig(2005). Siegbert “Hanafism”. Aethiopica: Encyclopaedia Vol D-Ha, 2. unc.edu/religions/islam/law/ Orienting the Re Veil (n.d.). “Islamic Jurisprudence &Law”Orienting the Re Veil. Onlineavailable at: http://veil. aneela%20sultana.pdf nal. Onlineavailable at: http://www.politicsandreligionjournal.com/images/pdf_files/srpski/godina3_broj1/ Aneela Sultana(n.d.) “Taliuban or Terrorist? on Reflections Some Taliban’s Ideology”. Politics andReligionJour pers/Understanding%20the%20Taliban.pdf for Internatioanl Studies. Onlineavailable at: http://subweb.diis.dk/graphics/Publications/ReligionViolencePa- Joshua White (2012). “Understanding the Taliban: Assessing Religious Categories ofAnalysis”. Institute Danish 126 , Alternatively, othersclaimthat there aboutfollowing isnorigidity oneoftheschools 123 th Finding Islamiclegalschool, and sources withinaparticular ofviolent extremistacts century, andchoseto “emphasise classicalIslamiceducation andpromote religious 125 Joshua T. White, Associate aSenior Asia oftheSouth pro andCo-Director 127 120 Despite the fact that theH anafi legalschoolis Despite thefact 124 Some imamsinKosovo Some donotseeitfit to 121 128 Hanafilegal Given that - - 39 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 40 Occasional paper by KCSS against imams, whoappearto beblamingtheexecutive withintheBIKfor structures allowing tacked by “islamic extremists” [sic.]. 136 135 134 133 132 131 130 129 tacked by four masked men. of 2008, XhabirHamiti,anoutspokencritic inKosovo”,“Salafi to havewas reported been at inKosovo,within theIslamiccommunity istheattacks andthreats towards someimams. In Arabia beyond donotextend introducing more ideasandcreating conservative someschisms Another casewhichshows that from theintroduction ofadditionalideasandpractices Saudi Table 2:Differences between theIslamiclegalschools of IslaminKosovo. that hehasbeenoutspokenagainsttheintroduction ofdifferentdo notlikethefact practices `Urf (Custom)`Urf Ijma` (scholarlyconsensus) preference) Istihsan (Juristic deduction) Qiyas (analogical Prophet’s Companions The sayings ofthe The Sunnah The Quran Hanafi legalschool Method appliedby available at: http://almakos.com/lajme/kosove/4722-hoxhallaret-ne-kosove-te-pambrojtur-nga-sulmet.html Almakos (2012). “Hoxhallarët nëKosovë të pambrojtur ngasulmet”. March 12,2012.Almakos.com. Online International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. p.51 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Ibid. Jeton (2008). Musliu meXhabirHamitin”.“Intervistë Express December 1,2008.Gazeta . available at: http://almakos.com/lajme/kosove/4722-hoxhallaret-ne-kosove-te-pambrojtur-nga-sulmet.html Almakos (2012). “Hoxhallarët nëKosovë të pambrojtur ngasulmet”. March 12,2012.Almakos.com. Online International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. p.51 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ uk/islam/understanding-islamic-law/the-four-sunni-schools/ for Message (n.d.). Muslims Four SunniSchools”.“The Onlineavailable at: http://www.message4muslims.org. com/school_of_thought.htm#1._Schools_of_thought_ IslamicIslamic(n.d.). &Legal“Madhab school” IslamicIslamic. Onlineavailable at: http://www.islamicislamic. 134 sman Musliu, an Imam inDrenas, 2009,OsmanMusliu, anImam In alsoclaimedto have beenat lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How GulfCountries a Spearheaded in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded the meansto evil) Adh-Dhara’i`Sadd (blocking preference)Istihsan (juristic (public Interest) Al-Masalih Al-Mursalah Fatwa given by aCompanion people ofMedina The custom followed by Companions The sayings oftheProphet’s The Sunnah The Quran legal school Method appliedby Maliki 131,132,133 135,136.

amiti suspects that the attacks came fromHamiti suspects people who There are alsoafew othercasesofattacks andthreats 129,130 stricter waystricter appliedina deduction) Qiyas (analogical the Companions The controversial views of Companions The sayings oftheProphet’s Ijma` (scholarlyconsensus) The Sunnah The Quran legal schools Method appliedby S hafi This istheleastpreferable. Qiyas deduction). (analogical evidence). hadiths (ifthere isnoother Use ofinauthentic andweak Companions given by Prophet’s Non-controversial fatwa The Sunnah The Quran Hanbali legalschools Method appliedby - - found onthelistofnotorious Lavdrim ofthosewhoneedto bebeheaded. Muhaxheri tioners, and besides being considered by manyRama (more as a Salafi was Enis conservative), However, similarto othermore liberal (Hanafi) voices inKosovo- amongotherIslamicpracti of hismosthated imams, andwas ready to assaultthem–at least. more liberal interpretation basedonHanafilegalschool–thusmore conservative), weretwo Avdiu andEkrem that EnisRama the authorofthisreport (whoalsodoesnotlimithimselfto group to, inKosovo willsoonturn andinMacedonia,somethingwhich thisreport alsotold violent extremistinKosovo who was ready to goto Syria andbelongedto aviolent extremist cions for hisallegedinvolvement interrorist groups, terrorist recruitment, etc. trovica was amongtherecently arrested imamsfor charges brought againsthimandsuspi- 145 144 143 142 141 140 139 138 137 Wahhabi voices inKosovo. by Musli Verbani, and oftheBIKstructures andacritic amainstream/liberal imaminKaçanik, oftheBIKalsoclaimedtoOn theotherhand, Bajgora, have theHeadImam Sabri beenattacked in Kosovo. “Islamic extremists” that andadditional Islamic practices gobeyond thetraditional Hanafiline dle”. extremists groups inclaimingthat Islamicextremism iswhensomeone “escapes from themid- in Kosovo. However, months before EnisRama, hewas arrested alsospokeagainstviolent of thoseimamsthat gobeyond, notlimitinghimselfonlyto theinstitutionalized Hanafiline direction ofthereligion,direction orintheopposite bothare direction; to be considered extremists. should beconsidered away anextremist;whetheronemoves from further themiddlein beheaded, and their beheading is foreseen in the Quran. negatively ones)whoarecluding theconservative aboutthe speaking “caliphate” needto be for an Albanian an interview daily,In Lavdrim said that these and other imams (in- Muhaxheri he spent sometimestudyinginJordan, Arabia, Saudi andEgypt, 141 Interview withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 18O Ibid. vdrim-muhaxherit-ne-kosove-jane-shefqet-krasniqi-enis-rama-gazeta-expres-bbc-cnn-etj/ BBC, CNNetj.“. Faktinews.com. Onlineavailable- at: http://www.faktinews.com/aktualitet-2/tema/armiqte-e-la FaktiNews (n.d.). “Armiqtë eLavdrim nëKosovë Muhaxherit gazeta janëShefqet Expres, EnisRama, Krasniqi, Ibid. tube.com/watch?v=O Tuba Islame (2014). –Ekstremizmi”.“Enis Rama May 8,2014.Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.you- bio.php Qendra përStudime Islame(n.d.). meligjëruesit”.“Njihu QSI.Onlineavailable at: http://www.qsi-ks.com/webi/ izem-2339 com. Onlineavailable at: http://live.kallxo.com/sq/MTL/Lirohen-Dy-nga-Imamet-e-Dyshuar-per-Terror LabinotLeposhtica (2014). për eDyshuar ngaImamët “Lirohen Dy Terrorizëm” September24,2014.Kallxo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lANICbwuDJc Kohavision (2013). “PULS -BashkësiaIslameeKosovës”. November 25,2013.Kohavision. Onlineavailable at: kut-2-20805.html Online available at: http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/kryeimami-bajgora-sulmohet-nga-imami-i-kacani- Telegrafi.com (2012).Kaçanikut”.Imami i Bajgora sulmohetnga “Kryeimami March 3,2012.Telegrafi.com. This, according away to him,meansthat you thefurther move from themiddle, one YUx58 dcKJv 137 , 138 . Similarly,- animaminoneofthemosquesMi EnisRama, 144 In personal contact with a former personal contact In 140 145 ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. heisalsoconsidered one Additionally, inresponse 139 . Given that - 142 143

41 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 42 Occasional paper by KCSS into violent extremistfighters in Syria come from then? the other. Where dothe violent extremistideasandvoices that transform Kosovo’s citizens ideas andreligious basedideologies inIslamontheonehand, andviolent extremistideason between religionization andtheintroduction ofmoretinction efforts conservative religious 153 152 151 150 149 148 147 146 Kosovo andtheregion hashadaninfluence inthe religionization ofsociety. organisations inKosovobased charity hasconfirmed, itfindsthat Saudi the Arabia’s in efforts ofIslaminKosovo.as andpractices Second, andasa former employee ofonetheSaudi ontheintroduction anddissemination ofmorehad animpact fundamental/conservative ide itsinquiry,In therefore, firstlyfinds religious thisreport influences Saudi from Arabia to have on hisFacebook account saying “may to capture Allah him”. give metheopportunity ISIS, a person who goes by the name port liberal imams. Lavdrim Muhaxheri’s listof “idiots to becaptured”, andwere alsothreatened alongsidemore accordance with a to“back the roots” and more teachingsconservative who were found on are alsoothercasesofnon-Hanafiandmore imamsthat preachconservative in andpractice ed when speaking aboutthe ed whenspeaking “ultra-conservative” views of Wahhabism behind callsfor people to jointheviolent rebel groups inSyria. As JohnEsposito conclud- find suchinfluences to either asacause,have anidea,ora impact hadadirect promoter According to theevidence andinterpretations outlinedabove, however, doesnot thereport ent from themandtheideastheystandfor. imams beingethicallyirresponsible for thelanguagetheyusedtowards othersthat are differ ontheotherhand-suchschismswereliberal practitioners alsomostlyinstigated by afew andmore ofthesociety ontheonehand, andpractitioners andthe secularpart community that suchinfluences were an ‘enabling factor’ for schismswithinandbetween Kosovo’s Islamic to EnisRama’s backinJuly2014 for KTV interview researchers that learned Haj-jaAlel Xhiadwas from inSyria. Gjilan,andwas later killed extremism on theother.” ofultraconservative theologyontheonehandandmilitant distinguish between theexport JohnEsposito (2011). Everyone Needsto about Islam”. Know “What Oxford Press. University p.55 Day ofJudgement. theology merely entails adivisionbetween thosewhowill, andthosewhowillnot, goto paradise the after Esposito’s stance isthat “[i]n itself, areligiously exclusivist theologyisnotnecessarily violent. An exclusivist 18 O withH.aformer longtimeemployee Interview invarious Arab organisations sponsored inKosovo, charity jete-13206/ lavdrim-muhaxheri-thote-se-ka-gisht-ne-perzgjedhjen-e-imamit-te-kacanikut-dhe-e-kercenon-ate-me- kërcënon atë mejetë” May Express. 12,2014. Gazeta Onlineavailable at: http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/ Visar (2014). Duriqi dhee gisht eimamittë“Lavdrim Kaçanikut nëpërzgjedhjen thotë seka Muhaxheri vdrim-muhaxherit-ne-kosove-jane-shefqet-krasniqi-enis-rama-gazeta-expres-bbc-cnn-etj/ BBC, CNNetj.“. Faktinews.com. Onlineavailable- at: http://www.faktinews.com/aktualitet-2/tema/armiqte-e-la FaktiNews (n.d.). “Armiqtë eLavdrim në Kosovë Muhaxherit gazeta janëShefqet Expres, EnisRama, Krasniqi, withR.H.ayoung inKosovo, Islampractitioner Interview 12February 2015.Prishtina, Kosovo. hasascreenThe shotofHaj-jaAlel Xhiadposting. authorofthisreport http://www.mesazhi.com/artikuj/hoxhe-enis-rama-askush-nuk-e-perkrah-isisin (2014). Mesazhi ISIS-in”“Hoxhe Askush nukeperkrah EnisRama: 29,2014.Mesazhi.Onlineavailable at: Juky ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 149,150

153 This, therefore, report, to make acleardis- finds that it isnecessary Haj-ja Alel 146 where hestated that nooneshouldsup Xhiad shared Enis Rama’s stance on ISIS 152 , challengeisto“the 151 Third, itfinds 148 147 There KCSS - - - nomenon inEgyptian politics”. that politicalviolence asserts ofawiderphe “was notuniqueto theIslamisttrend butpart was associated withpoliticalviolencetory to alimitedDalacoura extent, though, as Katerina As aresult, and following two decades since itsestablishment, Brotherhood’s the Muslim his- tion led by a vanguard of the of restoration law ofSharia inEgypt. condemned Qutb theEgyptian state to theIslamiccategory becameoneoftheinfluentialMuslim Brotherhood,Qutb membersofthe callingcall for the al Banna. Egypt with the foundation Brotherhood of the Muslim in 1928 under the leadership of Hassan traced backto Egypt begins modern andto withinorganized itsprisons. It Islamicpoliticsin sphere, have andKosovo includingtheBalkans, more inparticular recently embraced canbe The violent extremistideaspromoted by ISIS,whichagroup ofpeopleinthe Western hemi- 5.3. 162 161 160 159 158 157 156 155 154 ry) by theageoften. ry) which was theinitialconcept Brotherhood oftheMuslim since itsestablishment. radical ideas, wanting to establishanewway oflife basedontheQuran andIslamicteachings, 1940s where amasters heearned degree. Prime in1948. Minister blamed for plottinganumberofattacks inEgypt, includingtheassassination oftheEgyptian established offices inanumberof thatArab Itthisperiod it wasalsoduring countries. the1940s,During Brotherhood theMuslim hadsignificantly grown inmembershipandhad lar system the1920’s during and1930’s. litical ideologue, Qutb, Sayyid was finishinghiseducation insocialismandliterature inasecu- their politicalagendawithamore rigid version ofIslam. Brotherhoodand ideologues of the Muslim reacted with an “explosive formula” by combining the Arab lands. Feeling thetremendous retreat ofIslamicvalues intheArab landsthefounders andFrench theBritish was alsoadecadeafter upborders ascolonial rulersin begancarving Empire, considered astheIslamicCaliphate for theSunniMuslims, hadceased to exist. This (pre-Islamic barbarism) andargued barbarism) that therestorationjahiliyya (pre-Islamic ofIslamrequires arevolu- Ibid. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/2011/02/201126101349142168.html Aljazeera (2011). “ Profile: Egypt’sMuslim Brotherhood”. 6,2011.Aljazeera.com.February Onlineavailable at: Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ p. 11 Dalacoura Katerina (2011). “Islamist Terrorism East”. intheMiddle andDemocracy Cambridge University Press. pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ Dalacoura Katerina (2011). “Islamist Terrorism East”. intheMiddle andDemocracy Cambridge University Press. T 154 he roots ofviolent extremist ideas It should be understood that this was immediately It the period the after 158 Helater spent sometimefor hisstudiesin the United States the during 162 In 1949,government itsfounder In agentsal-Banna,andSayyid killed (Islamic Community), and that Islamic society in generalummah (Islamic Community), and that Islamic society 156 This Brotherhood’s was whentheMuslim theperiod keypo 157 159 hafiz was Qutb ahafiz Uponhisreturn to Egypt, hecame backwithmore 155

(committing theQuran to memo 160,161. O

ttoman - - - 43 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 44 Occasional paper by KCSS The following are ofevents theseries ofradical extremist ideas: that preceded thesurfacing 174 173 172 171 170 169 168 167 166 165 164 163 time. himself asanIslamicpoliticalreference andtheoretician for mostoftheArab world at the needed arevival. • • • • • • rule inEgypt, propagated asQutb andnottheSharia andintended; Brotherhood andNassergrew, becausethelater was determined to establishasecular After the successful overthrow Farouk of King of Egypt, disagreements between Muslim they cooperated withG to have established a corrupt government andaweak economy. The Brotherhood Muslim was keento overthrowFarouk King ofEgypt, whowas believed at: http://biography.yourdictionary.com/sayyid-qutb of Encyclopedia World Biography (n.d.). Facts”. Qutb “ Sayyid ofWorld Encyclopedia Biography. OnlineAvailable http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/2011/02/201126101349142168.html Aljazeera (2011). “ Profile: Egypt’sMuslim Brotherhood”. 6,2011.Aljazeera.com.February Onlineavailable at: at: http://biography.yourdictionary.com/sayyid-qutb of Encyclopedia World Biography (n.d.). Facts”. Qutb “ Sayyid ofWorld Encyclopedia Biography. OnlineAvailable Ibid. erhood-a-history-of-arrests-from-1948-to-2013 2013. MEMO. Onlineavailable at: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/africa/7039-the-muslim-broth- EastMonitor (2013). Middle “ ofarrests fromThe Brotherhood: Muslim 1948to ahistory 2013”. Agusut 22, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T Anon. (2012). “ G hood/#.VNsrL2h4pcQ OnlineavailableMuftah. at: http://muftah.org/the-ghost-of-revolutions-past-nasser-sissi-the-muslim-brother Elshami(2013). Nancy “ The GhostofRevolutions Past: Nasser, Brotherhood”. Sissi,&theMuslim July26,2013. erhood-a-history-of-arrests-from-1948-to-2013 2013. MEMO. Onlineavailable at: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/africa/7039-the-muslim-broth- EastMonitor (2013). Middle “ ofarrests fromThe Brotherhood: Muslim 1948to ahistory 2013”. Agusut 22, Egyptian world’s andwiderMuslim morale. Farouk King hadalsolostthewar withIsrael, inlatter’s war for independence in1948,whichwas ablow to sira_en.htm Alexandrina andtheNasserFoundation. Onlineavailable at: http://nasser.bibalex.org/common/pictures01-%20 HodaG pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ Dalacoura Katerina (2011). “Islamist Terrorism East”. intheMiddle andDemocracy Cambridge University Press. moderate, diverged butaminority towards more radical thoughts andactions. prosecutionsMass Brotherhood’s ledthebulkofMuslim membersto become more prison”,“fortress for known itssevere tactics. torture ment sentences, and the famous manyprisons of whom spent long months in military Thousands Brotherhood ofMuslim memberswere arrested, dozens faced life- imprison vehemently; the former continued to operate andpursue its politicalagendaclandestinely and more thefirsthalfof1950s,During NasseroutlawedMuslim Brotherhood; the however, themeantime,In was Qutb becoming politicallymore andwas active gainingsupport; Qutb, whowas sentenced to 15years imprisonment. 164 amal Abdel-Nasser (n.d.). “ Biography:Ahistorical sketch ofPresident G 163 170 amal Abdel Brotherhood NasserontheMuslim (subtitled)”. Youtube. Onlineavailable at: Qutb becametheeditor Qutb Brotherhood’s ofMuslim andestablished journal amal Abdel Nasser; X4RK8bj2W0 171 174 , 172 , 173 . Among thosearrested was amal Abdel-Nasser”. Bibliotheca 165,166 167 , 168,169 In order In to doso - participation inpoliticalprocesses.participation Brotherhood Sadat’sMuslim during era, however, was amovement committed to non-violent non-violent to politicalandcultural useofviolent whileothersresorted activities, means. of many “vibrant andenergetic” student associations andgroups; many ofwhichdealtwith Brotherhood.sition oftheMuslim Sadat’s During rule, Egypt alsowitnessedtheemergence creating theirown politicalgroups that appeared to beeven more radical thantheinitialpo lim Brotherhood’s asanon-violent political movement, re-emergence andasaresult began 186 185 184 183 182 181 180 179 178 177 176 175 time, Sadat’s Brotherhood enabledtheMuslim to re-emerge. newpolicy the Middle East, andindeedglobally[...].”the Middle logical evolution ofIslamist[more radical andviolent] movements [inEgypt and]throughout Qutb’s on,andprovided ideashadanimmenseimpact thread theintellectual for the “ideo provided asafe meetingpoint for militants andrecruits”. independent ing more freedom to Islamicgroups. 1970 asPresident ofEgypt, introduced newpolicies, whichamongothers, includedthosegiv As Brotherhood the Muslim continued to live on, Answar Sadat, who succeeded Nasser in • • com/az/rescon/2rdmv.html ofdozens Acollection ofsources regarding the Takfir andsimilar ideologies found here: http://www.angelfire. Ibid. p. 113 Dalacoura Katerina (2011). “Islamist Terrorism East”. intheMiddle andDemocracy Cambridge University Press. com/az/rescon/2rdmv.html ofdozens Acollection ofsources regarding the Takfir andsimilar ideologies found here: http://www.angelfire. Ibid. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/2011/02/201126101349142168.html Aljazeera (2011). “ Profile: Egypt’sMuslim Brotherhood”. 6,2011.Aljazeera.com.February Onlineavailable at: pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ Dalacoura Katerina (2011). “Islamist Terrorism East”. intheMiddle andDemocracy Cambridge University Press. Ibid. at: http://biography.yourdictionary.com/sayyid-qutb of Encyclopedia World Biography (n.d.). Facts”. Qutb “ Sayyid ofWorld Encyclopedia Biography . OnlineAvailable International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. p.13 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Ibid iyyah’s concept of “defensive jihad” to hisnewthesisof “offensive jihad”. out the ideological foundation for jihadist movement, the Salafi and advancedIbn Taym- ofQutb’sMost written works were produced whilehespentwhere timeinprison, helaid Nasser, After having beenreleased from briefly through prison the PresidentIraq’s of pleading to establish anIslamicState andtransform thesociety. indicated through andideashewanted hiswritings to overthrow thegovernment and 177 ahli (private) mosquesthat were notcontrolled by thegovernment, andthey Qutb wasandsentenced Qutb again,in1966,imprisoned to death oncharges that lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How Gulf Countries a Spearheaded 183 Still, there were groups that didnotagree- withtheMus 180,181. 185 Although ithadnotgainedalegalstatus at the This alsosaw period in the numberof ahugerise 186 178 , 179 . 182 The re-emerging re-emerging The 175,176 184 - - -

45 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 46 Occasional paper by KCSS ons, buthealsomanagedto recruit aswell. from society amongthecontemporary managed to successfully recruit from amonghisformer associates whowere- inpris tortured Brotherhoodwith the Muslim at the time. with his new and more Mustafa, violent program, Takfir), the1960s becauseofhisaffiliation whoduring was imprisoned led Mustafa Shukri, by appeared to bethemostsuccessful one, was the Takfir wal H perpetual stateperpetual ofjihad. don’tMuslims ruleand, intheirinterpretation, itmeansthat itshouldbetakenby meansofa government rulesandinwhichIslamiclaw prevails, withthelatter referring to landsinwhich al-harb(Houseof Islam) andtheDar War). The former refers to allthelandsinwhichanIslamic aim isto rigidly implement themore Islamicconcepts al-Islam(Houseof modern oftheDar of whichiswithdrawal into isolation from, what theybelieved to be, society. Jahiliyya Their munication andexodus’, andthenameitselftells alotabouttheirfundamental beliefs, one Brotherhood, to usinghiswritings legitimise violence againsttheregime”. others, “inspired thoseradicalised through to splitofffrom imprisonment andtorture the early period of Islamic history whenthefirstschismsinIslamoccurredUthman (thethird after ofIslamichistory period early 194 193 192 191 190 189 188 187 derive theirideological basisfrom theKharijites, tral ideological ancient tenets from whichtheydraw ideas. theircontemporary The Takfir Before outliningthecentral ideological tenets ofthe Takfir, to outlinethe cen- itisimportant including Al Qaidaandotherviolent radical groups. new ‘radical ideological bin’ from whichmany otherextremistsgroups appeared afterwards, The Brotherhood’s Muslim muchmore radical ideological offspring, the Takfir, becamethe en’s Al-Qaida. Jihad, led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, who later on merged his organisation with and advocated anextreme interpretation ofQutb’s writings, includedtheEgyptian Islamic violent groups that spawned were thisperiod during influenced Qutb’sby initialideology, his more radical disciples. andwas whospentwithQutb influenced timeinprison by him,hadbecome oneof Shukri, Qutb’s radical reinterpretation ofseveral keyconcepts andJihad, suchasJahiliyya O Bernard Lewis (2004). ofIslam:Holy Crisis “The War andUnholy Terror” Random HousePublishing Group. Ibid. pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ p. 113. Dalacoura Katerina (2011). “Islamist Terrorism East”. intheMiddle andDemocracy Cambridge University Press. pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ com/az/rescon/2rdmv.html ofdozens Acollection ofsources regarding the Takfir andsimilarideologies found here: http://www.angelfire. inpoliticalscene activists practitioners, becameapopularfigure Qutb which drivewas usedasanintellectual by anumberof radical relevant to ourtimes”. However, justlikeotherprevious status amongIslam Islamicscholars withcelebrity what was inprevious interpretions intheQuran, andattempted to interpret “in away that isunderstood and which the West that through ties, hiswork/books, often isnotright. Sheasserts attempted Qutb to gobeyond The G ther terms onemay findinEnglish or Arabic for “Kharijites” etc.Khāriji, Khawarij, include: al-Khārijiyyah, eorgetown University Professor, DeLong Bas, notes Qutb’s that tying work withtheideologyofjihad, 189 Another organisation that emerged out of the same ideological thread, which 193 191

194 192 whichwas agroup that deviated inthe Takfir wal H ijra referred (henceforth to as ijra inEnglishmeans ‘excom- 188 Osama bin Lad- Some ofthe Some 190 187 Mustafa Mustafa among the present day. believers, unlikeotherMuslim which makesthemvery –even includingtheSalafis thoseof and alike. They have appeared to disbelieve even Prophet instances, incertain Muhammad (ii) have awrong reading oftheQuran; (iv)opposetheulema(top Islamicreligious scholars); (thepredecessors)Salafi andtheir worshipers; (ii)are fanatically committed to theirbeliefs; have separated themfrom theIslamictradition. According (i)rebel againstthe to him,they: ered oneofthemostreferenced figuresKharijites, onthe outlinessomeoftheir features that andtheirprogressionwho haswritten ontheKharijites to thepresent day, andisconsid- According to aQassimUniversity Professor Arabia, inSaudi El-Akli, NaserBinAbdul Kerim separatists”. 203 202 201 200 199 198 197 196 195 Pillars rose: basedonwhichtheKharijites Caliph) was killed inthe7 Caliph) was killed not want to obeyAli asaCaliph; thelatter instead negotiated withthem(Muawiyah). vengeance Caliph) anarmed foragainst Ali (theforth againstMuawiyah, nottaking whodid present times. violent interpretations andtreatment ofotherswhoare notlikethem)have lived onduring did notgrow innumber, theirtheological andideological deviations from Islam(especiallythe before any ofthelegalschoolsinSunnitradition were created. Even thoughtheKharijites Therefore, itshouldbenoted that thefirstmajordeviation from Islamoccurred alongtime • • • • • able at: http://waag-azhar.org/en/makalat1.aspx?id=303 (n.d.). OmarAbdullah Kamel oftheAge”.“Kharijites The World Graduates foral-Azhar .Onlineavail Association - (2003). El-Akli NaserbinAbdul Kerim grupi“Hauarixhët, iparë idevijuarnëhistorinë eIslamit”. p.31-31 Jehona. able at: http://waag-azhar.org/en/makalat1.aspx?id=303 (n.d.). OmarAbdullah Kamel oftheAge”.“Kharijites The World Graduates foral-Azhar .Onlineavail Association - (2003). El-Akli NaserbinAbdul Kerim grupi“Hauarixhët, iparë idevijuarnëhistorinë eIslamit”. Jehona. doxy_among_mus.htm Chicago, Illinois, USA.Onlineavailable at:http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_201_250/schisms_and_hetero Javeed (n.d.). Akhter andHeterodoxy“Schisms Among Muslims”. International Strategy andPolicy Institute. Ibid. Armstrong Karen (2011). “Islami: njëhistori eshkurtër”. Logos-A. Skopje, Macedonia. Ibid. doxy_among_mus.htm Chicago, Illinois, USA.Onlineavailable at:http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_201_250/schisms_and_hetero Javeed (n.d.). Akhter andHeterodoxy“Schisms Among Muslims”. International Strategy andPolicy Institute. Weakness inunderstandingthereligion; theyhave littlereligious very knowledge. makes themhighlycommitted to religion, butwithout understandingit; Emerging asgoodandsincere people withfanatic commitment to prayers, fasting, which them; ‘bad’, asatool to and opposetheSalafis to fight themandotherswho donotthinklike G Disobedience towards andrebellion againsttheexisting leaderships; treatment withintherulesoftreating kuffars; Considering who make a mistake,all Muslims be that a single one, as kuffar, and their oing back tothat texts have the early to do with warrants for ‘good’ and prevention from 197 They separated from thethenIslamicmainstream having after openlyresisted 200 201 th century. 195 inEnglishmeans The Kharijites exitors”“the 202,203 196 or “the or “the 198 , 199 - - . 47 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 48 Occasional paper by KCSS cate inreality. buttheyunderstood fromto El-Akli, refute itthat whichitdoesnotadvo theQuran, asserts as the Takfir that have theirideological basisfromKharijites. the They never hadtheintention to embrace theKharijites’ ideology, timesitledto andinmodern thecreation of groups such ness, andviolence againstMuslims”. cruelty on IslamicUmmah,more thananyone elsehas. 209 208 207 206 205 204 today. andtreatmentdo notdiscriminate intheirthinking even andnon-Muslims between Muslims Finally, theyhave distanced themselves from anyone whohasnotagreed withthem,andthey every child, women aswell hostageasatrophy.every astaking wereThe Kharijites committed that Muslim didnotagree to murdering every withthem, and various scientific and literary specialities,various scientific which are and literary committed to Islam, but understand very young andexperience, peoplewithlittleknowledge andamongsomereligious scholarswith hammad: since itseemedto many ofthemthat theyshare professed mostofthe characteristics by- Mu believers haveMuslim andpractitioners usedthefollowing Hadithto point at theKhrijites, • • • • • • Ibid. (2003). El-Akli NaserbinAbdul Kerim grupi“Hauarixhët, iparë idevijuarnëhistorinë eIslamit”. Jehona. able at: http://waag-azhar.org/en/makalat1.aspx?id=303 (n.d.). OmarAbdullah Kamel oftheAge”.“Kharijites The World Graduates foral-Azhar .Onlineavail Association - Ibid. (2003). El-Akli NaserbinAbdul Kerim grupi“Hauarixhët, iparë idevijuarnëhistorinë eIslamit”. Jehona. available at: http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/Articles/English/Tableeghee%20Jma’at-Ahadis.htm There are several explanations ofthishadithby Shihab. Islamicscholars. Ibn OneofthemisShareekh O nline character, theworst.” ofitskind whenyoulast Group meetthemyou willemerge willdiscover withDajjal, theirnature and recognizedwill be by theshavingsoftheir entire headandtheywillmove inGroups and their their throats. They willleave thetrueReligion ofIslamasfast asanarrow leaves thebow. They “[...] there aGroup willbe whorecite ofpeople theHolyQuran butitwillnotgobelow Lack ofvisionandpatience, andquickto draw conclusions assurance; andstrict without prior Hastiness inestablishinganIslamicruleandcreating apositiontowards any opponent only basedontheQuran. Ignorance oftheirarguments to themajority theSunnah(Islamictradition); restricting dealing with ‘punishment’ andignoring Quranic verses dealingwith ‘mercy’ and ‘rewards’. Defective intheirmethodofargumentation, basingtheirarguments inQuranic verses moreknow thanthereligious scholars; Conceited andarrogant inrelation to religious thembelieve scholars, that they making One doesnotfind religious scholarsthat they follow; 209 Similarto Kharijites, the theearly Takfir ideologyusuallyspreads amonga group of 208

204

207 Wrong understandingoftheQuran ledpeople 206 areforThe Kharijites alsoknown their - “harsh 205 haveThe Kharijites declared war - rigidly reinforced inEgypt. histimeinprison during bracing theKharijites’ hewas arrested ideologyafter in1964,andsuchanideologywas more worshippers beganto massively spread someoftheirleaderswere after persecuted. 214 213 212 211 210 little ofit. Kharijites’ ideologyandwas adjusted for ofthe20 period themodern Below isthe outline ofthebasic tenets ofthe Takfir radical ideology, whichhasits roots inthe believe thefollowing: • • • • • • • • • • • • com/az/rescon/2rdmv.html ofdozens Acollection ofsources regarding the Takfir andsimilar ideologies found here: http://www.angelfire. Ibid. (2003). El-Akli NaserbinAbdul Kerim grupi“Hauarixhët, iparë idevijuarnëhistorinë eIslamit”. Jehona. Albania. 2015. Tirana, withB.I. aAlbania basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 24January Ibid. than individualsonly; Another innovation was that wholesocietiesandregimes were excommunicated rather intention to G an infidel, accepting hisclaim Muslim to be at face value andleaving thejudgement ofhis Whilst traditional Brotherhood UlemaandtheMuslim would notdenounce as aMuslim Stress aninternational andtheneedto fight Jewishconspiracy it; fidels orapostates; They are exclusive, andallothersasin- community seeingitselfastheonlytrueMuslim state employees, andthosewhoare, changejobsonjoiningthesociety; thestate.or thelegalsystem, astheyare andserve Jahiliyya They are notallowed to be state andrefuse conscription. They donotrecognise state education, uniforms, marriage state, the army,particular and all government feel Members services. no allegiance to the Denounce all symbols of the regime’s the official religious establishment in a legitimacy: first enemies by jihad-Israel andother would external come later; Declare bothregime under andsociety Takfir. They are thenearenemy to bedealtwith of rulerswhousedthemto monopoliseQuranic interpretation to theirown advantage; four legalschoolsandalltraditional commentators. Their founding were Imams puppets They are extremeinrepudiatingincludingthe communities theRashidun, allMuslim after from themandjointhe Takfir,Muslim theonlytrue worshippers; That boththeregime were andallofsociety mustseparate andtrueMuslims Jahiliyya world; The Islamicstate willbethethird superpower itsdominionover andextend thewhole Those thecallmustbefought whoreject againstto endalldissension; Islam andsubmitto theSharia; After establishingitsruleover onestate, the Takfir willissueacall to join to allhumanity The Prophet’s mandate was to fight allpeople(al-nas)until they convert, pray andpay zakat; 210,211. El-Akli notes that thefounderEl-Akli of Takfir wal H od, the Takifr are ready to denounce askuffar; Muslims 214 212 The ideologyandideasofthe Takfir ijra, Mustafa Shukri, beganem- ijra, Shukri, Mustafa th and21 st century. They 213

49 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 50 Occasional paper by KCSS alcohol, visit topless bars, and commit against crimes Westerns. allowed to theyare deviatepractices; Muslim allowed from strict to shave theirbeards, drink embracing suchanideology, whichinclude: which were communicated to himby Takfir soonturns to, imamswhichthis report andothers This former Takfir member in Kosovo outlined additional radical features in their thinking, outlined suchanideologyeven research before ontheissue. further theauthorconducted former Takfir memberinKosovo, withtheauthor ofthis whoinclosepersonal contact report ing theirfollowers inKosovo, propagators, andrecruiters. This hasalsobeenconfirmed by a is, therefore,It thisideologythat mostoftheKosovo foreign fighters in embrace,Syria includ- others that embrace the sameideological thread willbedifficult to “nullify”. planning to plotattacks. that the Takfir in worshippers implementorder camouflagetactics to when avoid detection have “alarming implications for police engagedincounterterrorism work”, includethat fact Additional features ofthe Takfir that eventually developed, which,asBruce Livesly believes, 221 220 219 218 217 216 215 European suburbs, butalsoto reach East. outto what ishappeningintheMiddle of whichto reach outnotonlyto theyoung, deprived descent peopleofMuslim wholive in rightly notes that the Takfir groups“would rather buildcitadelsofjihadwithin Europe out amongst the Muslim communitiesamongst theMuslim outsidetheArab world, thanwithinit. ing likean “amazing virus” throughout communities, Muslim andthat more itisflourishing Fandy, anEgyptian-born professor ofideologyisspread- that this kind ofpolitics, alsoasserted • • • • • • Interview withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 30O Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ Ibid. rupt, divideanddestroy Islam They seetheChristian West, JewishZionismandatheist Communism asplanningto cor to colonialismand becauseoftheirconnections andZionism. Book”, the Takfir viewedkuffar becausetheyhaddeliberately themas thetruth rejected toContrary thetraditionalist viewofJews asprotected andChristians “People ofthe ate ruleintheworld; occupied territories andestablishSharia Muslim Community), restore theCaliphate, guarantee thefreedom ofda’wa (IslamicState), liber Agree ontheoverall goalsofJihad:to overthrow infidelrulers, unite theUmmah(Islamic and shouldbeignored; imams oftaghut (imamsofthestate) which,according to themare (unbelievers), kuffar One should hate of BIK – they should be considered and block the imams that are part One isallowed to rape awoman whoisuncovered (wears aminiskirt); is allowed to do whatever ittakesto take “kuffar” parents’ wealth under Takfir possession; one’sIf father doesnotpray, andisnotconvinced to pray, heisconsidered akafir, andit 216 For instance, worshippers, unlikeMuslim the Takfir worshippers are 215 221 217 ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo.

Groups like the Takfir and 220

218 GillesKepel 219 Mamoun Mamoun - - hrid Agreement. the2001 Ohrid political optionsafter is allowed in elections and should be encouraged especially participation now that there are and predominantly initsideological base–Egypt. Eastwhereited theyhave andstudiedintheMiddle succumbed to the Takfir circles mostly ology hasfound itsplace inKosovo through anumberofSkopjebasedimamswhohave vis- teachings entered Kosovo later on, but more intensively from the beginning of 2005. This ide increasingly introduced inKosovo the second during half of1999,the Takfir ideologyandits ideology. While religious influences that andadditionalpractices are more conservative were findsthat the Thisradical, report violent, and exclusive ideologyof Takfir isnotahome-grown 5.4. 225 224 223 222 went Nasiruddinal-Albani, againstMuhammad anAlbanian from Shkodra, whospent therest and imams of consider thenon-Takfiris,Salafis), asanenemy imams(socalled includingthe conservative adopted thekey Takfiri traits, thecamps continued to separate to thethatextent the Takfirs other issues as well, andever since itbecameclearer that the Takfir alreadygroup hadactually all ofthem. who donotlimitthemselves to onlyoneoftheIslamiclegalschools, butteach andinterpret lamic legalschool, includingtheSalafis, whichare considered more practitioners conservative summary,In theseextremeideological tenets are found outofIslamictradition, and any Is- also to notlimithisteachings onlytoSchool, theHanefi There was anothergroup Halimi,anotherSkopjebasedimamknown inSkopjeledby Bekir and dubbedthosewhovote askuffar (unbelievers) –aclear Takfiri trait, asoutlined above. inelections, a Skopjebasedimamthat openlycameoutandargued againstparticipation allows you to vote in official state organized elections. theological debates took place between imamsinMacedoniaregarding whetherornotIslam The however, ideological splitsbegangradually; theybecamemore definitive in2003when imams disagreed amongstthemselves onfundamental issues. East, begantheirideologicaltogether splits. studiedintheMiddle This means, whenthese 2000s when most of theAlbanian imams from Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo, who have • o o o o school, 23 January 2015. Skopje, Macedonia school, 23 January Halimi.aMacedonia basedimam whodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegal withBekir Interview cause ofthemisusesuchaterm. theological definitionheis, buthedoesnotlike Salafism, likemanyto belinked with Salafiimams, other be Halimiisconsidered aSalafi understandsthatby many, Bekir The authorofthisreport whichaccording to its Ibid. 2015.Skopje, Macedonia uary withH.B. aMacedonia basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 23Jan- One shouldnotinteract at allwiththetaghut (state) institutions, i.e.: D etc. Should notsitintheparliament Should notinteract withthepolice institutions; orotherstate security Should notvote; issemination ofviolent extremism inKosovo taghut – another clear Takfiri trait as outlined above. The Takfirs in Skopje even 225 222 The two campscontinued thedebate on It was sometimeinthebeginning ofthe It 223 224 There was a group Aliu, led by Shukri andafew others, whoargued that - - 51 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 52 Occasional paper by KCSS 230 he entered theoffices oftheMIC’s 2004. leadershipduring by usingforce. Hewas even to have reported usedweapons, includingKalashnikovs, when spare himselfto pushfor ideological changesintheMacedonian IslamicCommunity (MIC) his ideologyasanimaminSkopjethebeginning of2000s, hedidnot whichperiod during time with Takfir circles, where hestrengthened the radical Takfir ideology. He first propagated academically andnationally unacceptable. of schoolandeventually from Arabia Saudi becauseofhisradical Takfir thoughts, which were then continued Arabia, Saudi from inMedina, where heisbelieved to have beenthrown out and directly supports ISISbefore hiscongregation. supports and directly ideology uninterrupted intheJahjaPasha mosqueinSkopje, andat thesametimerecruits fidents, isbeing writtenMemishi, even Rexhep continues as this to preachreport the Takfir behind.disciples inMacedoniathat For heleft instance oneofhisdisciplesandclosecon- the time he fled By to Kosovo, base and a number of Aliu had already built a support Shukri withtheotherimamswhotheyconsidercontact to beimamsoftaghut (state). ideological splits between imams where clear and the Takfir imamsand worshippers avoided against himfor suchanattack madehimflee to Kosovo. This was already when theperiod 234 233 232 231 229 228 227 226 imams. tor and a reference scholar for and all the Albanian speaking the likes of ISIS, Al-Qaida, Takfir postedhep Memishi aquote men- aboutjihadby aspiritual Abual-Maqdisi, Muqhammad of hislife inMacedonia. who have embraced Takfir Aliu, aKosovo ideologyisShukri imam,whohasspent born most an ideological baseinKosovo. For instance, imams amonganumberofAlbanian speaking is becauseofthelinksanddissemination channelsthat have facilitated theopeningfor such relevance for understanding the dissemination of such an extremist ideology in Kosovo. This atLooking thecontext andthedissemination ofthe Takfir ideologyinSkopjeisasofmuch close to him withhisteachings -includingthosewhoare today considered asSalafis. century. of hislife inSyria, andisconsidered oneofthemostinfluential Islamicscholarsofthe20 support ISIS. support close relatives that keepchanging theirnamesonFacebook continue to andopenly directly Visits to Skopjeandnumerous videos. Author’s onFacebook. observations withC.D. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 7January withR.H.ayoung inKosovo, Islampractitioner Interview 12February 2015.Prishtina, Kosovo. com/RexhepMemishi/posts/128500657222529 (2011).Facebook Memishi Rexhep posting. February 23,2011.Onlineavailable at.https://www.facebook. http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/b041_macedonia_wobbling_toward_europe_albanian.pdf IC Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, [KlanKosova]” LISBA.Youtube. Onlineavailable at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZ1zZu54ls Levizja IslameBashkohu(2012). “Arrestohet Aliu dheekstradohet /reagon Hoxhë: lëvizja Shukri “Bashkohu” - http://kfip.org/sheikh-mohammad-nasir-ad-din-al-albani/ Faisal King InternationalPrize (n.d.). NasirAd-Din Mohammad Al-Albani”.“Sheikh KFIP. Onlineavailable at: G (2006). drejtë mehapatë“Maqedonia: Evropës”. pasigurtë për Brifing Evropë, Numër41.Onlineavailable at: 231 226 , 232 Muhammad Nasiruddinal-Albani Muhammad heldmany current andyoung non-Takfiri imams . OneofMemishi’s closerelatives whilefighting was killed for ISIS,andhisother 233 , 234

227 During the1990s, During hefirst went to Syria to pursuehisstudies, and 228 Heeventually went to Egypt andspent some 230 Even backin2011,on23February, Rex 229 This andthecharges brought

th -

tion in Saudi Arabiation inSaudi andenjoys asareligious highrespect scholar. was anAlbanian imamfrom Kumanovo, ofEduca- Macedonia whobothworks for theMinistry en. on for around 7years uninterrupted by any inKosovo. state authority lence”, inaccordance Code, withtheMacedonian Criminal hefled to Kosovo, where hestayed When charges were Aliu for brought committing offense againstShukri acriminal of“vio ISIS andviolent jihadimovements uninterrupted by any inMacedonia. state authority in Skopje, butincludeotherplaces inMacedoniaaswell, whocontinued of to preach insupport Macedonia. Brodec in2005)isinvolved inmany offenses criminal of whichhe committed inthe territory the operation during Shiti (who was Aliu, killed of Ramadan as a close friend Shukri “Storm” in the press statement given by it was the Macedonian statedMoI, that there are indications that embrace the Takfir tenets. those referred to andquestionedtheir asSalafis), knowledge”, “Islamic becausethey would not major disagreements with other imamsfrom Kosovo areas (including andAlbanian speaking went to Egypt where he stayed with Takfir circles between where 2004 and 2006, a period he had 238 237 246 245 244 243 242 241 240 239 236 235 radical Takfir ideology. Aliu, hewas thrownShukri Arabia outoftheuniversity Saudi andasa result becauseofhis left attended Memishi Rexhep his religious 2000s, the early during studies in but Medina just like tried totried intimidate theheadofMICthrough theuseofviolence andmaltreatment. in Macedonia,back2005,underthecharges that together withsomeofhisfollowers, he authorities. vo andlater extradited to Macedoniaon 5December 2012upontherequest ofMacedonian 240 Y ouTube through the “Udhëzimi Islam” account ofOsamabinLad- whichholdsthepicture ber 2014.Mitrovica, Kosovo. withR.E. aKosovo basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto Interview aHanafilegalschool, 22Novem- 2015.Skopje, Macedonia uary withH.B. aMacedonia basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 23Jan- [KlanKosova]” LISBA.Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZ1zZu54ls Levizja Islame Bashkohu(2012). “Arrestohet Aliu dheekstradohet /reagon Hoxhë: lëvizja Shukri “Bashkohu” - he-shukri-aliu-dhe-ju-dorzohet-maqedonasve-video/ Onlineavailable5, 2012.Besimtari. at: http://besimtari.com/site/2012/12/05/arrestohet-ne-kosove-hox (2012). Besimtari “Arrestohet nëKosovë Aliu dhejuDorëzohet Hoxhë Maqedonasve”. Shukri December Koha,6December 2012,Nr. 1780,fq. 4.Macedonia. Koha,6December 2012,Nr. 1780,fq. 4.Macedonia. [KlanKosova]” LISBA.Youtube. Onlineavailable at:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZ1zZu54ls Levizja IslameBashkohu(2012). “Arrestohet Aliu dheekstradohet /reagon Hoxhë: lëvizja Shukri “Bashkohu” - Koha,6December 2012,Nr. 1780,fq. 4.Macedonia. Cdi-s6cZadhaQ UdhezimiIslam(n.d.). Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvgme8jWR_ youtube.com/watch?v=lxQ9zlX UdhezimiIslam(2012). Aliu”.“Fjalë tronditëse! sot!Shukri Immeti Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www. 18 O withH.aformer longtimeemployee Interview invarious Arab organisations sponsored inKosovo, charity withC.D. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 7January Besides Rexhep Memishi, Shukri Aliu has left anumberofotherdisciples, Aliu hasleft predominantly Shukri Memishi, Rexhep Besides ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 242 244 Hewas extradited by Kosovo’s becausehewas sued (MoI) ofInterior Ministry , 245 , 246 235

One of those that gave the order to from expel Memishi the University 238 Both Shukri Aliu’s Shukri Both ahaE 239 and Rexhep Memishi’s andRexhep are videolectures posted 241 236 Hewas arrested inKoso , 237 Rexhep Memishi also also Memishi Rexhep - 243 In In - - 53 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 54 Occasional paper by KCSS a fugitive until 2012. visiting Kosovo, Aliu’s somethingthat was mostlyfacilitated Shukri during inKosovo period as Aliu’sishi andafew otherofShukri disciplesfrom Macedoniahave beenfreely andfrequently in the blood of its sons. When the blood lessens, ofitssons. theblood in theblood theshipshivers. When drains theblood When out,the follows: example “An ofourummahistheship, notsailonsea.This butthisshipdoes shiplives published by theCultural Association Islame(Islamic “Rinia to beonthe sameranks withLavdrim Muhaxheri. Qazimi,whoisin andbelieved Haqifi,aclosestudent AliuSyria of isRidvan Zekirija by Shukri eos from Syria. carefully listens to oneofLavdrim Muhaxheri’s approximately 10minute longrecruitment vid- ideological ifone A direct Aliu influenceto Lavdrim from canbeobserved Muhaxheri Shukri andreligiousmechanism between thesecurity institutions(theBIKandimams). ist at itsoutset. This isalso symptomatic ofthelackamore institutionalisedcooperation to capturetional ones)have suchblatant dissemination ofanextrem- missedtheopportunity Syria. This issymptomatic institutionsinKosovo ofhow security (bothnational andinterna - to have also influenced Lavdrim oneofKosovo’sMuhaxheri, more ruthless foreign fighters in 256 255 254 253 252 251 250 249 248 247 to Kosovo, Fitim Lladrovci. yone whohelpedinreturning Zenaj Erion from Syria, alludingto aformer ISISfighter returned for and a preacher supporting theAlfor Qaida affiliated Jabhat andapreacher al-Nusra supporting group. studies inEgypt, anditisbelieved that later hebecameapropagator, recruiter, andareference other imaminKosovo influenced by the imamsmentionedTakfiri above as his wellasduring ence for theKosovo citizens fighting for ISIS. the Kosovo Police later believed to have become anISISpropagandist, recruiter, andarefer mosques inKosovo. Qazimifrom Heinfluenced Gjilan,amongthearrestedZekirija imamsby base, disciples,ideological andmany support otherfollowers inandaround anumberof H can close”. be not sailonwater; sea,andby thevictory itsailsonsea,abloody spillingourMuslimblood the implementationofShariawithoutspillingtheirblood, andthattheshipofaMuslimdoes is seven uninterrupted years inKosovo provided Aliu to enoughtimefor create Shukri an Ibid. watch?v=zhbWhgS6svc Online.net Indeks (2014) Youtube“Lufta –Indeksonline“ neSiri . Onlineavailable at:https://www.youtube.com/ Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, withA.A.a former foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo, 17November 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. vo. withD.T.Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, Koso shqiptareve-ne-isis-kerkon-koken-e-atyre-qe-ndihmuan-kthimin-e-erion-zenes.html Zenës”. November 3,2014.Televizioni Koha. Onlineavailable at:http://www.tvkoha.tv/19094/komandanti-i- Televizioni Koha(2014). “Komandanti ishqiptarëve kokëneatyre nëISISkërkon qëndihmuankthimineErion http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/ekskluzive-biku-rruga-drejt-terrorizmit-33221/ Visar (2014). Duriqi drejt rruga BIK’u, terrorizmit”“Ekskluzive: Express. 31,2014.Gazeta Juky Onlineavailable at: Ibid. withA.A.aformer foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo, 17November 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. withC.D. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 7January 256 255 With this, hewas paraphrasing Aliu whichwas aquote previously from Shukri Starting from theminute 5:05to Starting minute 5:25hesays “Muslims cannot achieve 254 Shukri Aliu andhisdisciplesinMacedoniaKosovo appeared Shukri later 251 Bedri Robaj, amongthosearrested Bedri by theKosovo police, isan- 247 , 248 . Another imaminGjilanwhowas influenced 249 , 250 . Hehasalsoaskedfor the “head” ofan- Y outh)” whichgoesas inKaçanik, 252 , 253 - Mem Ridvan - - 263 262 proximity, butalsobecauseoftheirinfluence. fir circles, astheirown region, consider HaniiElezitandKaçanik notonlybecauseofclose of Islam in Skopje, of the practitioners Some which is also the case with those within the Tak HaniiElezit, Kaçanik, ofthewiderregionVitia ofGjilan),whichare (part allcloseto Skopje. region of disciples inKosovo andothersocialmedia. through Skype cording to theformer Takfir member,Memishi has Rexhep continued with his contacts Takfir although it is difficult to tell at this point whether they all belong to the Takfir ideology. into Kosvo wasentry alsobannedfor andafew Memishi Rexhep otherimamsfrom Skopje, was extradited from Kosovo, Aliu, was banned.additionto into Shukri In thecountry hisentry 261 260 259 258 257 such majordeviations. Arabia’s Takfiri circles, whichlargely remain secret due Saudi to Arabia’s harshtreatment of thecaseofAlbania, the In Takfiri ideologyhas throughSaudi found itsplace inthe country hasusedthe to andSandzak Bosnia Takfir andotherplacestenets inhissermons inKosovo. Bilibani,animaminKosovo with,Idriz hasbeenincontact withstrongreport religious links has transmitted into Kosovo. According to the former Takfir member, who the author of this found its place in Kosovo, there are also other minor sources through which the Takfir ideology While theEgypt-Macedonia linkisthemajorsource through whichthe Takfiri ideologyhas Aliu whichtheyassociated withawill tion ofShukri “may Allah release himfrom prison”. spilled theirblood, drained”. hasbeen Thisship overturns. iswhy ourshiphasoverturned, because ofthoseshahidswhohave theblood have hadaninfluence through hisonlinepresence. Balla, who was a school mate and has been arrested, with Memishi, Rexhep in the Saudi may the influence of however,Takfir ideology; Albaniabasedimams, suchas Abdurrahman ( his disciples. from hisextradition after Kosovo, hisideological basecontinues to prevail andspread through The Aliu’s above list of Shukri disciples in Kosovo is not exhaustive, that even but it is certain violence inreaching theirgoal–version ofanIslamicState. ideology theyembraced andespeciallyoftheomnipresence ofpermanent andthenecessity Aliu,quote andlater issued by Shukri usedby Lavdrim ofthe speaksclearly Muhaxheri Takfir uary 2015.Skopje, Macedonia uary withH.B. aMacedonia based imamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 23Jan- withC.D. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 7January Interview with a high official of one of the security agenciesinKosovo, withahigh officialofonethesecurity Interview 27O Discourse usedwhileinvisitSkopje withC.D. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 7January Ibid. Cultural Association Islame”“Rinia (Islamic Gjilan, which borders Macedonia, and more predominantly in the municipalities of 259 Shukri Aliu’s Shukri Takfir ideologyinKosovo began to bespread initiallyinthewider 263 There linkbetween Albania isnodirect andKosovo whendiscussing 257 Islame”“Rinia has posted this to remember the deten- Y outh) inKaçanik 260 It shouldbenoted Aliu that ever It since Shukri 262 ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 258 G 261 enci) This Ac - - 55 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 56 Occasional paper by KCSS extremism. 265 264 America Europe and North zo Vidino, specializinginIslamismandpoliticalviolence in expert an academicandsecurity At a “Political IslamandRadicalisation” conference heldinPrishtina inNovember 2014,Loren- 1:S Diagram and partly in publiclife.and partly For example, theypay taxes, bills, etc. to thestate (unlikethe Takfirs), social life, interpretation butare withamore characterised strict oftheIslamiclaw inprivate Kosovo, inpoliticalprocesses, insecular Islamistsdoparticipate theconservative andpartially have “non-violent conservatives” –thoseusuallyreferred to asSalafis, becauseinthecaseof of “non-violent rejectionists” whichisfound at globallevel, inthecaseofKosovo we would lent rejectionists” orthe Takfirs asusedinthis report. level The next ofthe pyramid, instead used for justlikethecaseat agloballevel, thisreport, top we at thevery would have “vio If Vidino’s pyramid isusedinKosovo’s case, according to theentire methodologyofresearch if andwhenitisademocratic one(seepyramid below ontheleft). inthepoliticalsystem, andreligion evenhow buttheydoparticipate thesociety shouldlook, pyramid includes the “participationists”, who have similar views to the previous two groups on do notopenly advocate theuse of violence to overthrow thesystem. The third layer ofthe the “non-violent rejectionists”, interpretation thestrict oftheIslamiclaw, who alsosupport but any Islamiclaw. order that doesnotobeythestrict The second layer ofthepyramid includes pyramid, whereby top ofthepyramid at thevery we have “violent rejectionists”, whoreject Line thickness shows ofthelinkforLine thickness theintensity categories eachofthetwo D D irect fundingfor andreligionaisation charity irect both effort irect Lorenzo Vidino (2014). “Political Islam andRadicalisation”. FESConference. November 12-21, 2014. Lorenzo Vidino (n.d.). “Bio”. Onlineavailable at: http://lorenzovidino.com/ Sandzak T akfiri ideasthrough humaninterlocutors ources ofdissemination ofextremist Takfiri ideasinto Kosovo andthe region 265 Bosnia Hedividestheviews onIslamismthree levels ormacro groups basedona Albania Kosovo 264 , presented hisdivisions of views onIslamismas well asviolent Macedonia Egypt Saudi ArabiaSaudi U.A.E Qatar - 268 267 266 they do, insomecasestheydon’t. for people to move up or down the levels of the pyramid? As Vidino in some cases asserted, words, dotheselevels asa ofpyramid serve “conveyor belt” orare theyan “enabling factor” relationshipa direct between onelevel ofpyramid other withtheotherlevel to it?In next question regardingAn important the pyramids presented above, iswhether or not there is embrace Islamiclaw initsentirety. the pyramid, in the case of Kosovo they are even more do not necessarilyliberal, and certainly level ofthepyramid represents participationists”,“liberal whounlike Vidino’s bottom level of and moreciety of Islam in Kosovo.liberal practitioners Lastly, in the Kosovo case, the bottom while still maintaining a religiousconservative lifestyle compared of the so to the secular part who was aboutto leave for Syria. in Kosovo a (thoseconsideredMadrassa student hasde-radicalized Prishtina based Salafi), Hanafi interpretation ofIslam, having close relations andlinks to more imams conservative Additionally, anAlbania basedimam,who doesnotlimithimselfonlyto themore liberal report. theyoung helped inde-radicalising Takfiris, asa has extremist former told theauthorofthis is because, in the case of Kosovo, there are cases where the “non-violent conservatives” have olent conservative” to a “violent rejectionists”; however, thisshouldnotbetakenasarule. This and inothercasesonemay not. As aresult, there may becaseswhere onemoves from “non-vi- that onewould move to “violent rejectionist” level, as Vidino insomecasesone may, asserted, vice versa. Similarly, belonging to “non-violent conservative” layer, doesnotnecessarily mean participationist” doesnotnecessarily meanthat onecangoto “non-violent conservative” or from “violent rejectionists” to “non-violent conservative”. The “non-violent conservative” level is cases where the “non-violent conservative” asan served “enabling factor” for peopleto move asaan level serves “enabling factor” for peopleto move to “violent rejectionists”, there are also Trust toacertainextent 2015. Durrës, Albania. with Interview T.M. aAlbania basedimamwhodoes notlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, 24January Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, Ibid. 267 extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 6 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof

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- 57 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 58 Occasional paper by KCSS some individual characteristics of victims that fallprey ofvictims tosome individualcharacteristics suchideology. ticipationist” ideasto “violent rejectionist” ideas–whichhasto do, more thannot, with often when someone may jump from “non-violent conservative” ideas as well as from par “liberal The internal conditions and influences of mayextremism, alsoshedsomelight onthecases and influences for embracing both religious ideas (conservative) and the ideology.extremist gious now andviolent practices to extremistpractices, turns internal thisreport conditions havingand extremism, and after attempted to draw some lines between reliconservative - After havingconditions andinfluences discussedindetailtheexternal ofboth religionization na, whowere at the participationst”“liberal layer whentheydecidedto goto Syria. hasencountered,which theauthorofthisreport andtheotherfrom onefrom Prishti Kaçanik - not theonlygateway to “violent rejectionists”, becausethere are two casesofforeign fighters, - Eastern charity organisationsEastern to charity massively penetrate thoseareas. local governing structures, together with other “secular aidagencies” created room for Middle hand. Secondly, ofKosovo’s theneglect rural communities thewar by after international and mindsets, includingthosemore liberal ontheonehand, andmore ontheother conservative that attend nowadays. O 6.1. nist number ofthosethat attended inmosques before, thecommu sermons during - particularly it(secular). belong to faith,withoutpracticing aMuslim fromThis the canalsobeobserved is muchhighernowadays thanbefore 1999whenthepredominant claimedto just majority religion; as can be generally the number of those who claim Islam to observed, be practicing have found fruitfulgrounds inKosovo, 1999.Nowadays especiallyafter more peoplepractice isevident inKosovoIt conditions that andinfluences theexternal of religionization efforts 272 271 270 269 political institutions. in Kosovo was manifested withadisoriented society, highpoverty, andweak economic and grounds for religionization thewar. rightafter IsaBlumiclaimedthat period postconflict “the First, thesocietaldisorientation andweak economic andpoliticalconditions provided fruitful the ensuingperiod, whichprovided fruitfulgrounds for thereligionization ofthesociety. conditionsMultiple existed andwere at play thefirst during the war,years after andduring domesticinterplayingMultiple canexplain Kosovars’ factors embrace for religion 1999. after thoughts inIslam. organisations to attend that theirlectures introduced themto more andrigid conservative women inrural communities, consequently, accepted someoftheconditions charity ofSaudi governing at thetime, authority towards PISG Third ofinternational governing is theneglect structures, mainlyby UNMIKasthesupreme internal conditions in conjunction with the external conditionsinternal discussedabove. withtheexternal conditions inconjunction younger age. However, onecannotexplain religionization inKosovointo the withoutlooking there many are certainly 1999,andespeciallyinmore Islamafter recentticing ones(secular)beganpracticing years; 6. Y International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ number isdifficult to astheexact tell. isoutofgeneral observation, It ugoslavia and the 1990s when the majority wasugoslavia focused and the 1990s when the majority on the national cause, and those Internal c Conditions facilitating religious ideas 272

270 lobalization and the Rise of Salafism inKosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise How GulfCountries a Spearheaded in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded The entire hasbeenrapidly exposedofideasand to society avariety ut of this observation, many ofthose whobelongedtout ofthisobservation, thenon-prac 269 of those who after 1999 began practicing Islamoutright at their 1999beganpracticing ofthosewhoafter onditons and influences , p.v ’s requests to investigate “suspicious religious 271 Poorly educated menand - 59 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 60 Occasional paper by KCSS 275 of religion. outinvestigationsdid notallow themto onthegrounds carry ofhumanrightsandfreedom claimed that theywere aware ofreligionization organisations, by charity efforts butUNMIK to anational causeorto bothnational andreligious cause. figures See below. from areas. urban general, In however, would commit majority themselves theoverwhelming or state causebefore areligious cause, 44percent are form rural areas while49percent are who saidthesamething. Similarly, ofthosewhowould commit themselves more to anational case are thosefrom rural areas, compared to 10percent ofthosecoming from areas urban those that would commit themselves to areligious causerather thanto anational orstate than to anational orstate causeare slightly higherinrural areas. For instance, 13percent of areas.urban addition,thosethat would In commit themselves more to areligious causerather extent) inthereligioustrust to institutionscompared a certain to 71percent ofthoselivingin For instance, 79percent ofpeopleinrural areas claimedto have trust(trustalot, trustand in rural areas have more trustinreligious institutionscompared to areas. thoselivinginurban 279 Ibid. 278 277 276 274 273 suing period.governing Corruption structure,in every high income inequality, especially the Poor economic conditions have andthelevel theen- ofpoverty notchangedmuchduring Figure 5: Trust inreligious institutions (urban/rural) According to theO activities” inKosovo. olized theassistance intheseareas. to resist aidprovided organisations, monop Eastern charity by Middle whichalmostcertainly Trust toacertainextent Interview withN.I.,aformer Kosovo Interview Police 28O expert, officialand security KCSS (2014).Kosovo Barometer. Security O are regularly publishedon KCSS’s website, www.qkss.org Additional anddetailedinformation on the KSB(sampling, methodology, etc) refer to KSBpublications which the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online withN.I.,aformer Kosovo Interview Police 28O expert, officialand security International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof No opinion 70 Little turst ------275 6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists This ignorance, according littleroom to for IsaBlumi,left poorrural communities + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

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- score of(0)means corrupt”“highly andascore of(100)means clean”.“very a country’s isperceived publicsector to be, gave Kosovo ascore of33/100inarange where a of Index “Transparency International”, which ranks countries/territories based on how corrupt tain the service orgettheproblem solvedtain theservice through corruption. include teachers, parents, andstudents, believe that theyare certain”“fairly that theywillob to getthingsdone”. parents, andstudents, believe that theyengageincorruption because “there isnootherway cording 44percent to the2014UNDPreport, ofthoseinterviewed, whichincludeteachers, to note the trust on and engagement in in corruptiveeducational institutions. activities Ac concerns ofthepeopleandtheirneeds. the official governing elites because, DeLong-Bas they as are more asserts, familiarwith the as strong asbefore. As aresult, variouspoliticalIslamic groups become more credible than nian citizens ofKosovo to anational cause, theliberation fadedafter in1999,anditwas not which peoplecanfindin religion. for thenational elite that misrules, hascreated andasearch crisis anidentity for authenticity addition,the In West’s meddling andmicromanagement inKosovo, andtheiropensupport 287 286 285 284 283 282 281 280 Kosovo isranked 110 inadequate have provision prevailed. ofpublicservices ofthesociety,differences rural part as between therulingclassesandmajority well as religion, asDimalBashaalsonoted, as bestsolution to achieve next “the prosperity”. enough space for Eastandthelocalimamsto from variousmissionaries present theMiddle the level ofcorruption hasbeenmeasured. al” listingKosovo below 33percent ofallthecountries/territories where theperception about close friends privateclose friends concerns. They have notsufficiently dealtwiththe concerns ofcitizens foreign embassiesinorder to gainlegitimacy, andhave mostlydealtwiththeirown andtheir andgoverning elitesnumber ofpolicymakers were withanumber of inalmostdailycontact secular institutionsinKosovo. Ever since thewar endedinKosovo (inthepast15years) agood and remain muchcloserto thecitizens, compared andthepoliticalelite of to policymakers bas-%E2%80%98i-do-not-fin.htm Daily. Onlineavailable at: http://www.islamdaily.org/en/wahabism/5201.american-professor-natana-delong- (2007). Memri Professor“ American Natana DeLong-Bas: NotFind‘I Do Any Evidence...’”. 3,2007.Islam January com/az/rescon/2rdmv.html ofdozens Acollection ofsources regarding the Takfir andsimilar ideologies found here: http://www.angelfire. International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. p.42 Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Ibid.,p.30 tion%20in%20Education%20ENG_1.pdf http://www.ks.undp.org/content/dam/kosovo/docs/SAEK/2014%20Report_UNDP_O pinion%20Poll_Corrup UNDP(2014). onPublic“Survey Perception ofCorruption intheEducation Sector”. UNDP. Onlineavailable at: Ibid. able at: http://www.transparency.org/country#K Transparency International(2014). “Corruption by country/territory”. Transparency International. Onlineavail- demic Foresights. Onlineavailable at:http://www.academic-foresights.com/Kosovo.pdf JamesKorovilas (2013). “Kosovo’s How Economy: to analyse thepresent situation ofKosovo’s economy?”. Aca 283 th lobalization and the Rise of Salafism in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded According 41percent to thesame report, ofthoseinterviewed, which out of 175 countries/territories observed by outof175countries/territories observed “Transparency Internation - 286 In addition,theunification and In commitment ofthe Alba- . p.28 287 Imams inKosovo Imams engagemuchmore with directly 282 OS In regards In to religionization, itisalsoimportant 280 The 2014Corruption Perceptions 284 These have factors provided 281 With thisscore, 285 - - - - 61 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 62 Occasional paper by KCSS 294 293 292 and how should he behaveoccasion. in that particular worshipper whomissedaflight calledoneofhispreferred imams to askwhat shouldhedo interaction, phonecalls,direct TV, andothercommunication channels. For instance, aMuslim and happier. to changethelifestyle from trouble makersto goodcitizens andgenerally feeling muchbetter things,not findingpleasure asenseof in temporary relief after religious sermons, to wanting people inKosovo indicate theirreasons for to amongthemvary, turning Islam.Reasons from Sfera Training Centre has produced a public video where a group of mostly educated young tions andimamsfor guidance. ure to respond to peoples’ immediate needs, andasaresult have to turned religious institu- begun to distrusteducation institutionsandtheseculargoverning elite, becauseoftheirfail- 291 290 289 288 exists from interms ofquality. school-to-school that there isan inequitableaccessasserts to educational institutions andthat avast disparity portant questions inlife answered,portant isstillcharacterized by fragility. education, themostfragilesity whentheyouth period form andhave theircharacters im- implementation ofreforms are stillweak. shows that education, management professionalism, systems ofpre-university pedagogyand to impart practical knowledge and skills and produce and qualified skills graduates knowledge practical trained tofor employ impart and wives, heaven andhell, andmany otherconcerns. the internet, death, food, heritage, theway onehasto dealwithparents, children, husbands citizens, whichinclude:issues regarding marriage, life ontheinternet, relationships through of the most simple as well as most intricate and intimate questions held by a good number of problem solver for citizens. respond to Imams, through answer some religion, andpartly partly As aresult, imamsinKosovo have become thereference oflife advisorand point andasort religious figures. through secularinstitutions, andhave notremained closeto themcompared to imamsand address the pedagogic and skills trainingaddress needsofitsstudents andtheeconomy”. thepedagogic andskills shows that Kosovo continues to be “plagued by an education system that at alllevels fails to “Kosovo: Development 2014-2018Country Cooperation Strategy”, publishedby theUNDP for questions that answers people of a younger to age usually have. important A recent report, The education system implemented inKosovo 1999didnotprovide after acredible avenue years, high-schoolyears. early orduring all seemto have embraced religion school at ayoung theirelementary age–eitherduring Ibid.,p.11 Ibid.,p.11 Ibid https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1863/CDCS_Kosovo.pdf USAID(n.d.). “Kosovo: Development 2014-2018Country Cooperation Strategy”. USAID. Onlineavailable at: tube.com/watch?v=KDCFLjcql5M Sfera Training Center (2014). “ UdhëziminëIslam,sidhepse?”. Youtube. Onlineavailable at:https://www.you - withR.H.ayoung inKosovo, Islampractitioner Interview 12February 2015.Prishtina, Kosovo. cat_id=pyetje-pergjigje Islame(n.d.). Radio “Pyetje Përgjigje”. Onlineavailable at: http://www.radioislame.com/new/category.php?- 290 Most oftheprotagonists Most inthevideoseemto have onethingincommon; they 294 Additionally, thehighereducation inKosovo “fails 292 It is important to note that thepre-univer isimportant It 288 289 This isprovided through theinternet, It is clear that people have It gradually . p.7 293 The same UNDP report The sameUNDPreport 291 It also It - - 297 sional capacity of the teaching staff insional allcapacity levels is weak. continued education. into secondary demic year 2008/2009only98,890or27percent education ofthe365,473enrolled inprimary tion, an extremely low number continue into other levels of education. For instance in theaca- O 302 301 300 299 298 296 295 Kosovo) in2012. intheeducation sector higher thanKosovo); andCroatia spent around 422Euros percapita(225percent higherthan capita (9 percent higher than Kosovo); spent around Serbia 185 Euros per capita (43 percent stood at around 130Euros percapita; per capitaineducation andscience. Kosovo’s expenditures ineducation andscience in2013 terms ofexpendituresIn andinvestments intheeducation sector, Kosovo spendstheleast ment”. the Law Faculty oftheUP. low numberofapplications for suchpositions, that thousandsgraduate despite thefact from the JudicialCouncil hasbeenunableto hire for 50vacancies ithaspublishedbecauseofthe shown to beinadequate to respond to theneedsofstate for andothersectors; instance, tem for power baseddomesticpolitics. are politicized, whichmeans the politicalelite inKosovoand tertiary) uses the education sys- tion system inKosovo. noted that thesystem It ofeducation inalllevels (primary, secondary, Similarly, the 2014 the EU Commission Progress had negative remarks for Report the educa- anddebates onvariousissues.ical thinking whereby boththeteaching staffandthestudents embrace anapproach that encourages crit tion. There highrate isalsoanalarmingly ofdropouts whileattending thesameyear/level of questionsthat are educa- usuallyanswered onimportant basic knowledge secondary during which donotgetthechance neitherto socialize inaneducational institutionnorto gainthe between levels school, ofeducation, especiallyfor finishingelementary thosethat quitafter education continue into highereducation. into highereducation, whichalsomeansthat only34percent ofthoseenrolled insecondary education. Only33,834or9percent education continue ofthe365,473enrolled inprimary ther important data oneducation inKosovo educa- ther important indicate that ofthosewhofinishprimary Ibid.,p. 37 Ibid., able at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTK World Bank(2010). iShpenzimeve publike”.“Kosova: Rishikimi Nr. Onlineavail June 3,2010.Raport - 53709.-XK. tion-public-gdp#footnote Author’s own calculations for data from World http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/expenditure-educa Bank: - buxheti-i-kosoves----planifikimet tute. Onlineavailable at:http://www.institutigap.org/spendings/?buxheti-i-kosoves----planifikimet/2013#/~/ GAP(n.d.). “Si ishpenzon mbiNdarjetdheShpenzimineParasë shteti paret tona? Raportet Publike”.- GAPInsti able at: http://koha.net/?id=27&l=36131 Koha.net(2014). “Kosova prodhon juristë shumëporkualitet pak”. December 7,2014.Koha.net. Onlineavail- ropa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2014/20141008-kosovo-progress-report_en.pdf European Comission (2014). “Kosovo* Progress Report”. European Comission. Onlineavailable at:http://ec.eu - Ibid.,p.11 295 In general, In the educational institutions in Kosovo have failed to implement a system 298

, incombination with World BankData 301 299 The sameisthecasefor thosecontinuing into higher 296 300 whilein2012Albania spent around 143Euros per isalsoinadequate,The curriculum andtheprofes-

OSV/Resources/Kosovo_PER_June_3_2010_Alb.pdf 302 Therefore, highdropout there rate isavery in 297 The education system in Kosovo has . p. 37 - 63 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 64 Occasional paper by KCSS curity Barometercurity (KSB) or state cause, compared to theoldergenerations. According to late 2014KCSS’s Kosovo Se ently led younger generations to be committed more to a religious cause and less to national Such aconsistent lackofattention inyouth by thegoverning institutionsinKosovo hasappar youth clubsetc. tural centre that hasawiderange ofoptionsfor includingtheatre, cultural activities cinema, See figureSee below. 40-40, 50-59,and60-69agegroups respectively would commit themselves to bothcauses. and religious causes, whileonly29percent, 22percent, and20percent ofthosebelonging to cent of those belonging to 18-25 age group would commit themselves to both national/state be more committed to bothnational/state andreligious causetogether. For instance, 47per selves to a national or state cause than a religious cause. groups respectively as much as the younger(twice age group) would rather commit them- the otherhand, while60percent and50percent ofthosebelonging to 50-59and60-69age they would rather commit themselves to anational orstate cause thanto areligious cause. On million ofthepopulation. pality, cinema in 2009, or 1.1 cinemas per Kosovo and 1 semi-functional had only 1 functional mas, theatres, youth centres) from theSocialist have beenengaged. For instance, besideshaving inherited above 30cultural facilities(cine Additionally, there was where alackofrange ofcultural youth andotheractivities could 308 307 306 305 304 303 Kosovo); Montenegro had24cinemas, or38cinemaspermillionofthepopulation (34timesmore than more thanKosovo). of their pre-tertiary education level. of theirpre-tertiary education, anditisestimated that withintwo years around 30,000students have dropped out had 83 cinemas, or 11 cinemas per million of the population (10 times more than Kosovo). in theregion provide to interms theircitizens. ofcultural activities For instance, in2009Serbia are regularly publishedonKCSS’s website, www.qkss.org Additional anddetailedinformation on the KSB(sampling, methodology, etc) refer to KSBpublications which cies.net/web/statistics-participation.php?aid=110&cid=74&lid=en (2001-2009)”. Compendium Cultural Policies andTrends inEurope. Onlineavailable at: http://www.culturalpoli- Compendium (n.d.). Number ofscreens,“Country cinema admissionandcinemaadmissionspercapita chart: Ibid. UNESC vo/66047 q OSCE(2014). “ Online available at: http://koha.net/?id=27&l=42611 Koha.net(2015). “ Për dyvjetshkolliminnëKosovë ebraktisën 30mijënxënës”. 28,2015.Koha.net. January 306 O (n.d.). UNESCO Institute forStatistics. Onlineavailable at: http://data.uis.unesco.org/# Macedoniahad18cinemas, or8.5cinemaspermillionofthepopulation (8times SCE Municipal ProfilesOSCE Municipal March 2014”. OSCE. Onlineavailable at: http://www.osce.org/koso 307 Although thephysical cul- facilitiesexist, itisdifficult tofindafunctional 308 survey, only33percent ofthosebelonging to 18-24agegroup said 304 This numberismultipletimessmallerthanwhat othercountries 303 Y ugoslavian regime munici- inalmostevery Y ounger generations also appear to - 305 - - - -

cent ofpeopletrustreligious institutions, compared to NGOs(46.00percent), Kosovo Assem- KCSS’s alsoshows December similarresults. 2013survey For instance, itshows that 61.40per vo isthree timeshighercompared to theirtrust inthegoverning andotherstate institutions. trusted institutionsinKosovo. state related thePresident, institutionslikepoliticalparties, andtheG 20 percent thePresident, trusted politicalparties, andtheG that closeto 60percent ofcitizens trusted religious institutionswhileonlyalittlemore than compared to governmental andstate institutions. shows sector Riinvest 2014 survey Institute show similarresults, where thepeopleinKosovo have farmore trustinreligious institutions level of trust such institutions enjoy among the wider public in Kosovo. A number of surveys from secularstatehand, services institutionsisalsoreflected anddonotgetmeaningful inthe tic conditions, whereby peopleembrace religion andrely onreligious ontheone authorities Lastly, itshouldbenoted that thecombination mentioned above of the factors anddomes- Figure 7:C 311 310 309 in religious institutions. shows otherinstitutions.tions amongsixteen that It closeto 62percent ofcitizens place trust similar results; however it places the religious institutions as the second mosttrusted institu- produced companies. resultspublic utility ofanotherreport by Survey “Forum 2015” show Kosovo is alsomuch higher than their trust in the Kosovo Police, EULEX, the Parliament, and resultsThe alsoshow samesurvey that trustinreligious institutionsamongthecitizens of vo, however, isnotanexception asthisisthetrend intheregion aswell, especiallyinSerbia. 312 Trust toacertainextent KFOS(n.d.). of Open G “Mapping OLL_ENG1418830333.pdf kimet/pdf/P Riinvest (2014). “Public OpinionPoll”. Riinvest Institute. Onlineavailable at: http://riinvestinstitute.org/publi- KCSS (2014).Kosovo Barometer. Security O http://kfos.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mapping-of- Ibid. ENG.pdf extreme Secular/ No turstatall ommitment to a cause (agegroups) ommitment to acause liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

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- - - 65 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 66 Occasional paper by KCSS 316 315 314 313 groups ‘align’ to create anenvironment potential violent that radicals. isidealfor nurturing crimination, the government’s and the influence of violent questionable legitimacy extremist religious finds. extremist violence and theBalkans, inBosnia Heconsiders that rampant - dis enough evidence for what Vlado Azinovic, whohaswritten andcommented agreat dealon the society. Data onpeople’s trustininstitutionspresented above regarding Kosovo provide ditions also provide grounds fertile for extremist violent ideasto of be embraced by a portion also create these factors enough space thatonly; violent extremist groups capture. Such con- that conditions facilitateDomestic andfactors religionization are notlimited to religionization 6.2. Figure 8: Trust inreligious institutions(agegroups) institutions. figure See below. of thosebelonging to generations olderthan50years ofagehave notrustatallinreligious ing to the 18-24 age groups have than 30years ofagehave alotoftrustinreligious institutions. Only 9percent- ofthosebelong in religious institutions, whilelessthan25 percent ofthosebelonging to agegroups older generations. For instance, 42percent ofthosebelonging to 18-24agegroups have alotoftrust shows that younger generations have more trustinreligious institutionscompared to older creates enough room whichradical violent groups capture. of thesystem ofsocialvalues, ineffective publicadministration, weak economy, poverty, etc) (because ofpoliticalun-sustainability, corruption, theirinability, andtheoverall destruction analysis aboutradical violent groups hefindshow intheBalkans, weak state structures that context there andsecurity. isalinkbetween thesocio-political his alsoasserts Azinovic In bly (14.70percent), orthemedia(38.10percent). Trust toacertainextent (2012). Vlado Azinovic “Uvod ustudije terorizma”. Fakultet Universitet uSarajevu, nauka Sarajevo. politickih nia/24659069.html RFE Radio Liberty. Onlineavailable at: http://www.rferl.org/content/off-mic-azinovic-terrorism-book-bos- Free Radio Europe (2012). “Islamic Terror O NewBook inBosnia? KCSS (2014).Kosovo Barometer. Security O docs/Kosovo_Security_Barometer_Third_Edition_20786.pdf KCSS (2013).Kosovo Barometer. Secuerity December 2013.Onlineavailable at: http://www.qkss.org/repository/ extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspart of Conditions facilitating violent extremist ideasandgroups No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

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0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 % c

0 e ia 1 r s s s k 29 h

a 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 %

a ( c c c 2 a a n /

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316 liberal part ofreligiouscommunity No trstatall 2 rejectionists state cause 5 reintegrate theminthesociety rehavilitation processinorderto They needtoundergoa immediately They needtobearrested the country They needtobebannedentryinto No opinion pose athreat other citizen,becausetheydon't They needtobetreatedasevery Violent 6 % 0 6 n n I % c m I t m I n b I 0

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8 3 n e a n n 0 l l l conservatives 69 l l d

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% m i

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good purpose, but very little knowledge onreligion. littleknowledge good purpose, butvery circles are young; however, headdsthat theyare also naive asmostofthetimetheyhave a also believes that thosewhoare more susceptible to beingattracted to the Takfir ideological claims to El-Akli’s. IsmajlBardhoshi, aninfluential imamandascholar from Tirana, Albania, informed about the Takfir ideology, interviewed ofthis for thepurpose research, have similar Albania, andMacedonia(includingSalafis by its religious definition)who are aware and well still involved inSyria were to Syria. between 23-28years ofagewhentheydecidedto depart sincethe Syrian 2012, conflict we could conclude that 46percent ofthosethat were orare between 1985-1999. Consideringborn that Kosovo foreign fighters began to beinvolved in exists, according to which,46percent ofthosewhofought orare stillfighting in areSyria The graph below of199Kosovo shows theyear foreign ofbirth fighters, for whichsuchdata 322 321 320 319 318 317 once they have come to power”. their violent but at actions, the same time such movements “have offered novision for society are “frustrated anddisgruntled” withtheirgovernments andhave to turned Islamto legitimise that theviolent extremistgroups asserts areDeLong created Basfurthermore by peoplewho for rebellion andare drawn by hypocrisy. religious scholars, theyusuallygetattracted by athird group whichfollows paths distorted rant; (iv)without experience; and(v)since theydonotdraw religious references from credible ideology. According are to (i)young; him,themajority (ii)shallow- andlight-minded; (iii)igno drewEl-Akli someofthepersonalfeatures ofthosethat are usuallydrawn into theKharijites’ 6.2.1. thatpicture facilitate radical violent extremism beyond religion, includingthefollowing: thecaseofKosovo,In findsthat there thisreport isa range ofotherissuesthat come into the asked aboutthepersonaltraits ofthoseembracing the Takfir ideology. religion itselfwas alsomentioned by anumberofotherimamsthat were when interviewed and circumstances. Such confusion presents a fruitful ground that the Takfir usually capture. usually created whenthere transitions; are there socio-political are newthoughts, opinions, on whyIraq, in and nooneshouldjoinconflicts hassaidthatSyria is confusion withinsociety Tërniqi, animaminDurrës whohasbeenoutspokeninarguing through Islamicreferences are disillusionedandhave orbelonging.” nosenseofpurpose ing, citingsomenews says andFBIreports, that preys“ISIS typically on Western youth who Prishtina, Skopje, Tirana, Durrës. withimams B.I., Interviews T.M., H.B., R.E., A.E., whodonotlimitthemselves onlyto theHanafilegalschool. Albania. 2015. Tirana, withB.I. aAlbania basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 24January (2003). El-Akli NaserbinAbdul Kerim grupi“Hauarixhët, iparë idevijuarnëhistorinë eIslamit”. p.11 Jehona. 2015. Durrës, Albania. with Interview T.M. aAlbania basedimamwhodoes notlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, 24January date/2014/1022/ISIS-excels-at-recruiting-American-teens-Here-are-four-reasons-why-video 22, 2014.The Monitor. ChristianScience Onlineavailable at: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Up Husnaaq(2014). “ISIS excels at recruiting teens: American Here are four reasons why (+video)”. O Natana DeLong Al-Tayyar”. Musaid Bas:By The SimpleTruth. pp.54-60 Al-Tayyar Musaid (2014). Abdul “Muhammad Ibn Wahhab: Biography. anIntellectual withDr. Interview Mrs Particular personalcharacteristics 317 According to Husnaaqfrom ScienceMonitor Christian 320 In addition,anumber ofotherimamsinKosovo, In 321 That theyhave about littleknowledge 318 In an interview with Mustafa withMustafa aninterview In 322

ctober ctober - 319 - -

67 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 68 Occasional paper by KCSS 324 323 AliuSo, embraced the Shukri Takfirs around 15 years before hejoinedthefight in Syria. his Takfir ideasinthelate 90s, whenhe was around 21-23 years ofage, or perhaps younger. years ofage. Although hebelongedto anolderagegroup amongfighters, hebeganadopting eas inthe region, whenhe inthe was early conflict, joinedthe aroundfights 37-38 in Syria very Aliu,instance, theideological generator Shukri of Takfir ar ideologyinthe Albanian speaking of years becamepart ofage,Takfir theycertainly ideologywhenthey were much younger. For ideology. Given that 46percent ofthosewhojoinedthefights in Syria were between 23-28 an individualdecidedto fight in andtheagewhentheydecided Syria to embrace the Takfir young asonewould initiallyassume, oneneedsto understandthedifference between theage however. of those that went Although it looks like the majority to Syria are young, but not as note needsto bemaderegardingAn important agegroups andpeople’s involvement inSyria, Figure 9:Kosovo foreign fighters inS they decidedto leave. fighters were 1975,whichmeansthat 11individuals after born were olderthan38 at thetime they decidedto leave. Ontheotherhand, 6percent, or11ofthemwhowent to Syria asforeign third oftheKosovo foreign fighters, or36percent were older than 28 years ofage at thetime means theywere between 17and20years ofagewhentheydecidedto leave. More thana Syria, while8percent, or15ofthem,belongto between 1994and1997,which thoseborn information exists was even younger than16or17years ofagewhenhedecidedto fight in groups inSyria; 20percent ofthemwere below 23years ofage. Oneofthemfor whomsuch Another 20 percent of them were even younger at the time they decided to join the rebel attention-seeking, desire salience, andwant to berepresented andbedisplayed as asearly have someothertraits. For individualshave instance, to be ahighertendency theseparticular share the same belief that those who want to get to the leading position among the Takfirs his Takfir ideas;however, anumberofinfluential imamsinKosovo, Macedonia, Albania,and cannot say, for instance, Aliu young islight-minded whenheadopted orwas very that Shkri Trust toacertainextent Interview withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 18O Author’s own calculations from data provided by theAnti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecular andreligiouspartof No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

M 24 u

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9 1

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- - - - - the society No s - - - -

17% a S S S Kil

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0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 % c

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h r ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) tio o o o r r 2

4 yria according to (n=199) year ofbirth 1

28% a 1 wn 2 R e e d

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3 % %

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9 I wouldrathercommitmyselfto religious causethananational/ % % 9

8 34%

% 4

% 1

I would rstcommitmyselfto 3 3

7 5 Little turst 9 a national/statecausethat % 9 I woudcommitmyselftoboth

% % 3

% 3 1 4

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0 5 - % % % 4 323 59 % %

% 5

Religious/ % religious cause

liberal part ofreligiouscommunity No trstatall 2 rejectionists state cause 5 reintegrate theminthesociety rehavilitation processinorderto They needtoundergoa immediately They needtobearrested the country They needtobebannedentryinto No opinion pose athreat other citizen,becausetheydon't They needtobetreatedasevery Violent 6 % 0 6 n n I % c m I t m I n b I 0

h a

w 2 w w w a e

% o a y y 0 a u 4 i t 60 t t t o o o o 23% 26% 18% 1% 2% s s % i h r 0 n i s 0% h o 2 6 u o e e 3 u u u ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. Participationists e % 2 -

8 3 n e a n n 0 l l l conservatives 69 l l d

Urban 0 d e f f non-violent t d d % % r a % a

h % l

t t 7

l a r i 7 c r r l o o Liberal a a g o / 0

/ % o 0 a a s t t s

% m i

% a n

a r t t m t e t i

o a r a o h h l a m u i m n t e e g t e No opinion 3 s a e e r r e a i l

1 i i 5 t t i a

2 l o

t l c c c g

c i i 0 % / n m 5 8

a o o g o 9 u 4 7 a m i % s 1 1 % 0 d conservative o n u % s m m 6 i 5 u 3 t Rural y 5 0 o % 0 y

u s a % % 5 Religious/ n s 1 s 0 % 26% 3% 14% 23% m m u s % 70 e t e l s % 4% 0% e

o 3 % e /

e s

s 2 l c i r i % s

l (or similar)

+ t t 4 c f c a

ideology

t a a a 0 u t %

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3 . 0 % 3 1 3 4 % 4

0 324 % %

One 4 5 4 4 0 % 8 % %

- should be observed asanindication. should beobserved sented inthegraph below doesnottell behindeveryone’s theentire story education level, but represent ofallforeign only a quarter fighters that went to dataSyria, ontheireducation pre University education. Given that 57Kosovo foreign fighters, for whichsuchdata is available, education, while20percentonly theirsecondary ofthe57them have completed higher 57 ofthosewhowent to Syria, for which suchdata isavailable, 75percent have completed 330 329 328 327 326 325 well. degree inInternational Relations withhighgrades andamaster’s degree withhigh grades as joined thefights in andstayedSyria for around amonth at theend of2013,hasabachelor’s There are alsoexceptions whenitcomes to thelevel ofeducation. For instance, A.A.,who Figure 10:L ning whensuchdesires appear. theirleadershipendeavourpossible during whichis, perhaps, difficult tonotice inthebegin- pation in terrorist organisations, among other things, is also a student at the Technical Faculty tion institutions, get attracted to Takfir ideology. education, implyingnotonlythelevel butalsothelackofsubstance that onegetsineduca- animamin previous Ahmet sections. Kalaja, that usuallythosewholack Tirana, alsoasserts Quran. hadi movements do not seek to educate people” or to study of the encourage an in-depth The G 6.2.2. Trust toacertainextent 330 Interview withA.A.aformer foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo,December 13 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. Author’s own calculations from data provided by theAnti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department Albania. 2015. Tirana, aAlbania basedimam whodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, withK.A. 24January Interview Natana DeLong Al-Tayyar”. Musaid Bas:By The SimpleTruth. pp.54-60 Al-Tayyar Musaid (2014). Abdul “Muhammad Ibn Wahhab: Biography. anIntellectual withDr. Interview Mrs 2015.Skopje, Macedonia uary withH.B. aMacedonia basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 23Jan- Albania. 2015. Tirana, withB.I. aAlbania basedimamwhodoes notlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 24January eorgetown University professor, Natana DeLong Bas, points outthat “contemporary ji- Similarly, A.B. from Lubishtë villagein Vitia,- whowas charged oforganising andpartici 327 extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 evel ofKosovo ofeducation foreign fighters (n=57) Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspart of trait ofthe This isaparticular Takfir ideology, which we have outlinedindetail No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 Education andattitude towards it 0 ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

M 24 u

A lotoftrust e

Un 10% la

4% I

7 7

1 1 1 1 1 5%

a d 1

1 0 2%

9 1

r % % 6% 9 9 9 9 9

l e 1 d E 0 0 %

Un % iv 1 /

J J J J J J J 16%

9 7 9 9 8 Ap Ap Ap Participationists le O O O le S 4 le % % u u u a a a a %

1 iv e

7 9 3 0 4 Un 1 e

% c c c rejectionists Non-violent n n n n l- l- l- < m d m E % r 1

Ye t t t c % r r r e

- - - - - the society No s - - - -

17% a S S S Kil

e 1 - - -

o - - - 9 17%

M M M M r

20% e 9 e 1 ity iv 1 1 1 1 1 1 D D D J J J e e e

s r

3 s n 25% s 7 1

3 n u u u n 16% %

1 4

1 t 9 9 9 9 9 9 p p p ity e e e Un a a a a h e le % 21% d 5 1 % n n n ta 0 2 % ta 7 0

9 8 9 7 9 8 ( c c c t t t r r r r r o (

< a % S

% d

% 1 %

% s b 7 0 4 5 1 5

25 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

( ( ( ( u d Un r r r y ( 31% ity 24% 21% 17%

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 8 a

y y y 6% 0% in m s e r Urban

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 % c

0 e ia 1 r s s s k 29 h

a 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 %

a ( c c c 2 a a n /

p e s 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 h h h 1 c

I r r te o 2

lo Trust h r ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) tio o o o r r 2

4 1

28% a 1 wn 2 R e e d

2 o o o 0 % r r

6 q % 1

% 2 s s e ) ) ) 0 l l l n %

3 0 t t % (or similar) ) 0 0 25% li % 2% 1 %

4 ideology 26% % %

g Rural

0 9 Tak r 26% % io 9 0 0 % % 325 23%

% % %

3 3 0 2

0 0 0 2

7 % 9 0 s 4

% % % % 3% 5 , 30 %

To acertainextent % % 7 3 326 25% 28% 24% 12%

1 1 8% 3% Religious 2 % 8 1 extreme 2 - 0 % 1

% % 5 39 0 %

% %

4 4

1 5 5 % 4 4 0

% % % % 4 % % % 1

3 6

2 %

0 3 5 % 0 0 1 1 %

% 0 9 40

1 % 30% 25% 2% 10% 12% 2

50% 6 % 47% 0% 5 49%

7 0 0 - 47% 9 % 4% % 49 4% 1

3 % %

329 0 4 0 religious andnational/statecauses 4

9 I wouldrathercommitmyselfto religious causethananational/ % % 9

8 34%

% 4 328

% 1

I would rstcommitmyselfto 3 3

7 5 Little turst 9 a national/statecausethat % 9 I woudcommitmyselftoboth

% % 3

% For instance, in the case of Kosovo, out of

% 3 1 4

I wouldcommitmyselfto Religious/ % 1 5 extreme 0 1 neither areligiousnor 2 liberal % % 6 % % 50 2 1 3 25% 27% 15% 12% 21% Discourse betweenliberalandconservative 5 national/state cause 1 1% 0 3 1 0

0 5 - % % % 4 59 % %

% 5

Religious/ % religious cause

h a

w 2 w w w a e

% o a y y 0 a u 4 i t 60 t t t o o o o 23% 26% 18% 1% 2% s s % i h r 0 n i s 0% h o 2 6 u o e e 3 u u u Participationists e % 2 -

8 3 n e a n n 0 l l l conservatives 69 l l d

Urban 0 d e f f non-violent t d d % % r a % a

h % l

t t 7

l a r i 7 c r r l o o Liberal a a g o / 0

/ % o 0 a a s t t s

% m i

% a n

a r t t m t e t i

o a r a o h h l a m u i m n t e e g t e No opinion 3 s a e e r r e a i l

1 i i 5 t t i a

2 l o

t l c c c g

c i i 0 % / n m 5 8

a o o g o 9 u 4 7 a m i % s 1 1 % 0 d conservative o n u % s m m 6 i 5 u 3 t Rural y 5 0 o % 0 y

u s a % % 5 Religious/ n s 1 s 0 % 26% 3% 14% 23% m m u s % 70 e t e l s % 4% 0% e

o 3 % e /

e s

s 2 l c i r i % s

l (or similar)

+ t t 4 c f c a

ideology

t a a a 0 u t %

Tak r conservative o u % u t o s Religious/ e

s e

s extreme e

3 . 0 % 3 1 3 4 % 4

0 % %

4 5 4 4 0 % 8 % %

- 69 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 70 Occasional paper by KCSS ISIS. the peoplearrested theAugust during police raid, andsays that heregrets hisattempt to join (hypocrite) imamswho are goingagainstISISandwhocallthemuneducated andignorant. that they are not bothered by anything; the only thing that bothers them are the videos, where Lavdrim invites population Muhaxheri to joinISIS,said theAlbanian speaking other brothers sector. intheconstruction any permanent employment; was employed onlyasaseasonalworker together withhisfour to Syria. Mentor isastudent ofeconomics at thepublicUniversity ofGjilananddidnothave rana by state while he was authorities attempting to fly to Istanbulin order to continue his trip Mentor Zejnullahu, in1990,from born Tërpeza villageof Vitia, of was caught at theAirport Ti- 6.2.3. 339 338 337 336 335 334 333 332 331 2014, three having months after joinedtheconflict. to was have inSyria reported inJanuary beenkilled in1979,from born Kjani Mjaku, Kaçanik, ones, by saying that are“they cowards andare notwillingto fight for Allah.” tion we have” to we fight arefor the trying word ofG He thencontinues by saying “yes, that istrue, we are uneducated, butwiththat littleeduca- obey andcanreadily follow orders withoutquestioning. in Kosovo from Gjilan)to not sendbrightandeducated people;hewanted onlythosethat in Syria. According Qazimi(imamandrecruiter to Zekirija him,Lavdrim was asking Muhaxheri the KCSS researchers, that Lavdrim did not like the presence of educated recruits from Kosovo A.A, whospent around amonth inSyria, where hehadalsometwithLavdrim told Muhaxheri, paper work whichwere notreligious. clearly es methim, he lookeddetermined and committed to hisstudieswith a pileof books and He didappearto bereligious andembracing religion; however, at thetimeKCSS research- at theUniversity ofPrishtina. road whichmakesitimpossibleto beaccessed by carorany othervehicle. if onewants to getto theirhouse, theyhave to travel onfoot onanarrow muddyandgravel his village. They live in a rundown house, which is located of their village, in a remote and part only memberofthefamilythat works ishisfather, Zejnullahu, Bafti whoworks asaforester in relative’s stores on the way to Lubishtë, he was found studying for his exams at the faculty. 338 line available at: http://www.indeksonline.net/?FaqeID=2&LajmID=81270 Online.net Indeks (2014). “Rrëfimi specialpërshqiptarët evrarë nëSiri”. 9,2014.Indeksonline.net. On- January at: http://koha.net/?id=27&l=23733 Koha.net(2014). “Pendohet xhihadistiMentor Zejnullahu [video]”. August 31,2014.Koha.net. Onlineavailable Ibid. Visit to Mentor Zejnullahu’s family, 3December 2014. Viti, Kosovo Ibid. watch?v=zhbWhgS6svc O nline.net Indeks (2014) Youtube“Lufta –Indeksonline“ neSiri . Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/ withA.A.aformer foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo,December 13 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. Ibid. withA.B. arrested by anextremist suspect theKosovo Interview Police, 26November 2014.Prishtina, Kosovo. Family andsocialconditions 331 When KCSS researchers methimunannounced at oneofhis 336 Mentor’s familyhave poorlivingconditions. The 339 od, andmoves onto mocktheeducated Kjaniwas theeldestson inthefamily 333 Also, inoneoftheISISrecruitment 337 335 Mentor isoneof

munafiq 334 332

day. to sellwhateverpossible –hedidnotwant hecould to that cutduring misstheopportunity in rushto goandcutsometrees andsellthemin “wood market” as asearly down inKaçanik proud ofhissonfor fallingasashahid(martyr). player for F.C. “Lepenci” Hewent to Syriaofhisfamily who are withthepermission inKaçanik. appeared poor economic and financial toconditions. be living in very in1983,fromA.C. born HaniiElezit, whowas amongthosearrested alsofought inSyria. A.C. researchers, welcoming. hewas very peared to nothave beenfed well. Although Kjani’s brother was metunannounced by KCSS met hisbrother coming outofthegarden ofhishousewithawearisome horse, whichap remotea very and, what KCSS seemedto be, researchers anabandonedarea uphillofKaçanik. nent job;andwhenever hecould, hewas cuttingtrees closeto hisrundown houselocated in 350 349 348 347 346 345 344 343 342 341 340 according to him,itisthefaultofstate that isleaving peoplejobless. KCSS researchers met T.U, he has no job, he said that he has nothing to and, do in Kaçanik, as awaiter, andwhenhereturned having after beenarrested was unableto findajob. When T.U, individuals, justliketheabove-mentioned never hadapermanent job. Heusedto work T.U, whowas amongthosearrested, in1987,from born spent Kaçanik, three months inSyria. who was married andhadthreewho was married kids. family, inreligion. strict becamevery have together joinedtheconflict. 2014togetherthree withKjaniMjaku, they months after have inSyria inJanuary beenkilled to was reported Hetem aformer Dema, in1974,from KLAsoldierborn villageofKaçanik, Bob ades. gets from G has never worked before inhislife, andhisfamilywas beingheldby apensionthat hisfather from HaniiElezit, whowas amongthosearrested, went to Syria inthebeginningHe of2014. his brothers is working abroad.his brothers isworking met, saidthat hisfinancial conditions were below average bad, becauseofone butnot very state. parents, and the only income and four he has is from kids social welfare that he gets from the 342 Ibid. withA.C.,a former foriegn fighter Interview from Kosovo,December 15 2014.HaniiElezit, Kosovo. Visit to A.G.’s family, 15December 2014.H ani iElezit, Kosovo. withA.C.,a former foriegn fighter Interview from Kosovo,December 15 2014.HaniiElezit, Kosovo. with Interview T.U., aformer foriegn fighter from Kosovo, Kosovo.Kaçanik, December 15 2014. withHetem Dema’s Interview relative, Kosovo 8December 2014.Kaçanik, Ibid. line available at: http://www.indeksonline.net/?FaqeID=2&LajmID=81270 O nline.net Indeks (2014). “Rrëfimi specialpërshqiptarët evrarë nëSiri”. 9,2014.Indeksonline.net. On- January Ibid. Visit to KjaniMjaku’s family, Kosovo 6December 2014.Kaçanik, Ibid. 347 350 H . began practicing religion A.G.beganpracticing inthepastthree years andeventually, according to his Hewas offered ajobinhis town justbefore he was arrested; however, helosttheop is economic conditions seemedto bedire. ermany for whichhewas entitled to having after worked there inprevious dec 345

343 Hetem was married, hadthree andhewas asoccer kids, 348 341 340

However, hedidnothave timeto talksince hewas Before leaving for Syria, Kjanididnothave- aperma 344 Oneofhisrelatives, whoKCSS researchers 349 He lives with his wife, 346 ., born in1988, A.G.,born - - - 71 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 72 Occasional paper by KCSS 359 358 anyone keptresponsible for it,Muslims buttheyfind to betheproblems ofthissociety”. responsible for of40kgdrugsinthesafest thetheft room inthepolice facilities;why wasn’t arrested hehadaskedthepolice officers rhetorical questions another saying that “Iamnot managed to de-radicalize him. managed to de-radicalize to goto (non-violent Syria, butdidnotbecausesomeSalafi-considered imams conservative) conditions as above canbedescribed average. have permanentemployment. All ofhisbrothers work intheprivate andhisfinancial sector arrested, went to amonth. Syria Hehadsomeonandoffjobs, andcame backafter butdidnot ditions, there are exceptions aswell. For instance, in1987, whowas A.A,born amongthose ofthoseresearchedWhile themajority by theKCSS belongto familieswithsuchsocialcon- andgenerally hismental cognition.of thinking difficult to whetherhesaidthis confirm to to statenote his authorities, butitisimportant way 357 356 355 354 353 352 351 criminal recordcriminal to before Syria. departing for Syria. O departed of thosethat have already been to Syria have records hadanumberofcriminal before they Islam” andthemoral benefitsitoffers andspiritual tothem. Forinstance, close to40percent One ofthesetraits withintheinterplay oftheirothertraits istheirdesire for a “quick way into makesthemembracecharacters the Takfir ideologyandeventually jointhefights in Syria. Interplay ofanumberothertraits withinaconsiderable numberoftheseforeign fighters’ 6.2.4. cuss next. extent, why suchindividuals(outliers)couldcertain alsofallprey to Takfir calls, which we dis- and conditions, whichincombination could with theirpersonalcharacteristics explain, to a C.D. are alsowell educated andlive areas; inurban nonetheless, there are someotheraspects sidered aterrorist for fighting in ontheother?” Syria Selver Haradinaj andEnver Zymberi considered terrorists, ontheonehand, andwhy amIcon - not want questionssuchas: somerhetorical to talkalot, heputforth “why aren’t of thekillers moment since heisunderhousearrest. while hewas underarrest, andheneedsnow to goandfixithimself, butcannotdothat at the He saidthat thestate hasalsocuthissocialwelfare, becausehewas notpresent to takeit portunity because, beingarrested, after hispotentialportunity employer believed hewas aterrorist. has perfect financial conditions inthefamilybecauseofhisfather’shas perfect business. was irritated by therecent police raid, itasaraid describing “against Muslims”. Author’s own calculations from data provided by theAnti-Terrorist withintheKosovo Police Department Ibid. Interview withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 18O withA.A.a former foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo,December 20 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. Visit to A.C.’s family, 15December 2014.HaniiElezit, Kosovo. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. The concept of ‘shahid’ andpersonalcharacteristics f thosewithprevious records, criminal 47percent had more thanone 357 Heembraced the Takfir ideologyalthoughheclaimsthat he 352 359 A.C.seemedto beawell-informed individual, and Additionally, almost9percent ofthemhadthree 356 C.D, whowas aformer Takfir and was about 354 In addition,hesaidthat whenhewas In ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 358 353 Both, A.A.and Both, While hedid 355 It is It 351

records before leaving for Syria. fightersand acommander within the oftheAlbanian-speaking ranks ofISIS,had7criminal instance, who was believed Lavdrim to from have Muhaxheri, Kaçanik, been a reference point murder (5casesamongthem). cases amongthem);possessionofnarcotics (6casesamongthem);murder andattempted of firearms (27 cases among them); intimidation withoutthem); permit carriage and fraud (11 records,criminal (30casesamong theyinclude:violent attacks (39casesamongthem);thefts 364 363 362 361 360 condition. engage infraud, records andin almostallothercriminal withoutdiscrimination,andwithno sons. First, unlikeinIslam, onewiththe Takfir ideologyisallowed steal, to attack, lie, intimidate, way into Islam”. Takfir thosewithprevious ideology attracts criminal records for several rea- among a good number of those that embrace the Takfir ideology, and their desire for a “quick There is a logical association that can be made between having previous records criminal Figure 11:Previous criminalrecords ofKosovo foreign fighters (n=210) previous records, criminal while 5 percent had more than six previous records. criminal as well aschangesonhow onedealsandinteracts withtheirfamilymembers, and friends to level. alcohol, commitment Suchmajor changesincludelifestyle changessuchasnotdrinking Islam orwants to embrace Islamneedsto andpractice makesignificant changesonapersonal in asense that takes aa lotpersonof whotime isand guidedeffort, intoIslamic practitioner ofIslamthat werepractitioners for interviewed ofthisresearch, thepurposes becoming an Secondly, according (includedtheSalafi considered to anumberofImams ones)andordinary gives themtheright to doso. continue withtheirformer lifestyles, criminal butnow onbehalfofreligion, whichtheybelieve believe that G beingconvincedBy by themselves others, believe ormaking that Takfir isthetrueIslam,they cords to embrace asanew “religious” ideology–the Takfir, believingit to represent trueIslam. Trust toacertainextent namaz (5 times daily prayers), not clubbing, and other significant required social changes, uary 2015.Skopje, Macedonia uary withH.B. aMacedonia based imamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 23Jan- Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof No opinion 70 Little turst 364 ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 This, asaresult, provides agoodavenue for thosewithsuchprevious re criminal ------rejectionists + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% od willforgive theirprevious records criminal anddeeds, whiletheycanstill - c

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- 73 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 74 Occasional paper by KCSS significant changes. derstood by says theinternational media/reports), that whenguidedinto Islam,onehasto make around 20years now andappreciates (by Salafism its core definition,not bythe Salafismisun- way another example,In according Islamfor to 30sand has diligently R.H., who isinhis early practised 371 370 369 368 367 366 365 a strong andattractive concept. fering themaquickway to forgiveness andheaven. inIslamis The concept ofshahid(martyr) always basedonitsfundamental tenets, to draw usuallyyoung individualsinto Takfir, by of- (Takfir motivators) scholarsandspiritual inpropagating Takfir ideology, useasimplelanguage, with previous records criminal towards it, butothersaswell. Those inleadershippositions Islam anditsassociation withforgiveness andthepotential way to heaven) that draws many Third, there ismuch ‘simplicity’ inbecoming a andeffortlessness Takfir (believing tobetrue a senseofpaying duties(taxes andotherobligations) towards it. The Takfir, Islam,donoteven unlikethosewhobegin practicing have thesecularstateto in respect tradition, asC.D., includingSalafism, a former radical Takfir member toldtheauthorofthis report. iftheydon’tkuffar pray, andeven takeviolent measures againstthem,whichis unliketheIslamic does not have to go through these steps. They can even refer to their parents, and others as friends This issomethingdifficult todo atthebeginning; however, whenjoiningthe Takfirideology,one tionally orunintentionally causedany orshowed harm to disrespect parents, friends, andothers. interacts withotherswhoare closeto them,andeven askfor forgiveness, incaseonehasinten- that whenoneagrees to beguidedinto Islam,theyneedto makesignificant changesonhow one oneneedsto friends, furthermore, respect andothers. ofauthority; Thisthem somesort means questions that resonate you withsuchindividuals:Do love Allah? them to go to fight in or elsewhere,Syria, the recruiters and Takfir leaders ask them simple ‘next life inheaven’. When already drawing theminto Takfir, andwhen wanting to convince the simple languagewhenattracting ‘newcomers’ whoseekforgiveness andare drawn by the one isguidedinto Islam. way to forgiveness, withouthaving to progress slowly through thereal changesneededwhen ofwhat theybelievethem withthecomfort to bea “quick way into Islam”, andthus, aquick they believe to beIslamandtheforgiveness that comes withit. Therefore, Takfirism provides changes are needed, andtheycancontinue withthesamelifestyle butundertheveil ofwhat to go through these changes; they can still continue with their previous records, criminal so no such changesintheirlives. However, whenembracing the Takfir ideology, onedoesnothave committed Islamicpractitioners, oneneedsto anddedicated bevery ordinary to gothrough others, whichare considered to bemajorchangesinone’s life. According and to theseImams 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealingwithandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview withR.H.ayoung inKosovo, Islampractitioner Interview 12February 2015.Prishtina, Kosovo. withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 11 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo.February Ibid. withR.H.ayoung inKosovo, Islampractitioner Interview 12February 2015.Prishtina, Kosovo. ber 2014.Mitrovica, Kosovo. withA.E, aKosovo basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto Interview aHanafilegalschool, 22Novem- 2015.Skopje, Macedonia uary withH.B. aMacedonia basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, Interview 23Jan- ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 367 For instance, onehasto begin to entirely theirparents respect andgive 365,366

371 However, the Takfir misusethe concept ofshahidwiththeir 370 Y es. you Do love- Moham 369 368

begins to spend more time around thosethat s/he believes to have more to similarities their of thefamily. Having suchschismsandfundamental disagreements withinafamily, thechild the child’s beliefs to bealiento them,andthechildbegins feeling asanalienated member nals whentheprocess ofparent-child alienation begins. Parents express, andopenlystate the child, already strongly convinced abouthis/herguidance suchattempts. rejects This sig- to encourage theirchildto Islam(many notpractice timestheydothisaggressively), while young membersofthefamilyon onehandandtheparents ontheother. Parents attempt When ayoung memberofafamilybegins to Islam,itcreates practice schismsbetween the whiletheyconsiderwith modernism, religionization asparochial. secularfamilyembodies in Kosovo.urban They consider theirsecularstance to beassociated not like to have suchan association, in many cases, because of ‘pride’ that an and other aspects colleagues, andotherswithIslamasanentire family–whichtheyconsider parochial. They do nant secularfamiliesbecauseoftheirfear withinurban ofbeingassociated by neighbours, secular families, usuallyparents, tend to convince themnotto doso. This ismore predomi- guided towards Islam. andbegins practicing When suchyoung Islam, peoplebegin practicing Such isolation usually, andinmany cases, begins whenayoung memberofasecularfamilyis fall prey to Takfir ideology, having isfamilyandsocialisolation after beenguidedinto Islam. that makes,Another aspect especiallyyoung people, includingtheeducated andwell ofones 6.2.5. tially goto heaven. fighting for theIslamic State isthequickest andtheSharia, way to get forgiveness andpoten- disillusioned that thisistheway theywillbeforgiven by Allah, andshahid,i.e. beingamartyr 376 375 374 373 372 he has been killed went asfarhim believingthathe hasbeenkilled hislosteyes now rest inheaven. with theconcept ofshahidandtheheavenly benefitsthat he believes he would have gainedif abattle during inSyria. ofhisarms completely lostincludingparts The level ofhisbrainwash of aforeign fighter from Gjakova, A.Dwhoreturned home badlywounded, having hiseyes engaging themselves inSyria by fallingshaihd,betrays draws themandquickly themin. initial desire to gain a “quick way into Islam” and the benefits they believe they will receive by they trulybelieve theywillbeforgiven, buttheyhave littleunderstandingofIslam,andtheir According to Mustafa Tërniqi, peoplewhoare drawn into suchlogic are usuallysincere, and med? guidance), believe theywillfind Allah’s forgiveness intheDay ofJudgement. little lifestyle changes, by continuing records withcriminal (now committed by a ‘religious’ previous records criminal (committed outside ‘religious’ guidance assecular/atheist), andtheir falling asshahid,thoseembracing Takfir ideologybelieve that theywillbe forgiven oftheir Interview withcloserelatives of A.D. Interview aformer foreign fighter, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 15January 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealingwithandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview Ibid. Ibid. 2015.Durrës, Albania. ary with Interview T.M. aAlbanian basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, 24Janu- Y es. Would you diefor them? ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. Family andsocialisolation andalienation 373

Y es. 372 They answer suchquestionsby previously being 375 There isacase 376

374. By By 75 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 76 Occasional paper by KCSS 385 384 383 382 381 380 379 378 pose andmeaning–however misguided.” of familyandbelonging, ISISoffers disaffected teensachance tojoina group that gives thempur that muchlike Monitoralsoasserts Science Haq oftheChristian family’s hewas to Islam. stop practicing support, his father conditioned himinaway that ifhewanted to continue livingwithhisfamilyandget his family’s stance towards Islam. practicing hisdecisionto start Islam, When hebeganpracticing For instance, A.E. around 23years oldfrom Peja, before fallingprey to Takfir circles, of was avictim Islam function very well muchpresent. asbrothers very andsisters, amongstthemisvery Islam function andsolidarity Lavdrim Muhaxheri. 386 377 ingeneral,society andthisis one oftheirstrong tools to the attract ‘abandoned’ ones. The Takfir reinforce this, especially for peoplewho are alienated from theirfamilies, friends, andthe to live withthefamily. families. For instance, Berisha’s Ilir father isbelieved to have abandonedhimanddidnotallow him to have been Takfir recruiters for ISISinKosovo, andwhodidnothave good relations withtheir O to believe that hecould fallasshahidwhilefighting in Syria. in thedefeat care ofcommunication of A.E., whowas –someone elsebegantaking eventually led pressure onhimto give upIslam,whichconsequently alienated himfrom hisfamily, andendedup of friendship andcare,of friendship somethingtheyhave lostfrom theirfamilies. mer memberof Takfiri circles, says nice theyare to thosewhoare alienatedvery andinneed when a number of these young people fall prey to Takfir circles, who, according to C.D., a for new ideological stance thantheydowiththefamilywhohasalienated them. This isthepoint of superstitionconsidering theentire familyas Mjaku “terrorists”. ed that theirneighboursare completely ignoring them;theydonottalkto themanymore because 2014,hisbrother, inSyria inJanuary whowas killed indicat KenanMjaku, inKaçaninik, Kjani Mjaku end upinSyria are alsosociallyisolated. For instance, whenKCSS researchers visited thehouseof Syria to fight. was, andguidedhimtowards theirideology. A.E. eventually was convinced anddecidedto goto within he found support Takfir circles who, at worst, hadbeenhelpinghimmore thanhisfamily whoworewith agirlfriend a headscarf. Unableto face theantagonisms at homewithhisfamily, versity ofPrishtina andwas livinginarentedPrishtina. Heeventually apartment gottogether ther examples include also those of Ilir Berisha and Shefki Koraqi from Kaçanik, whoare believed Koraqi from Kaçanik, andShefki Berisha ther examples includealsothoseofIlir Interview withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealingwithandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview Visit to KjaniMjaku’s family, Kosovo 6December 2014.Kaçanik, Ibid. 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealing withandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview Interview withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 18O Ibid. withfather ofA.E. aformer foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo, 2015. 21January Peja, Kosovo. date/2014/1022/ISIS-excels-at-recruiting-American-teens-Here-are-four-reasons-why-video 22, 2014.The Monitor. ChristianScience Onlineavailable at: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Up Husnaaq(2014). “ISIS excels at recruiting teens: American Here are four reasons why (+video)”. O withC.D. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 28O ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 379 , 380 In an interview withA.E.’s aninterview In father, itwas clearthat hisfather hadappliedimmense 382 381 Besides familyisolation, Besides thosewhoeventually begin theirlives as Takfirs and Ilir then began living with Shefki Koraqi, bothrelated thenbeganlivingwith Shefki of andclosefriends Ilir 386 378 A.E. was astudent at ofelectronics theUni- “criminal gangsthat offer asense 383 Those whobegin practicing ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 377

384,385. ctober ctober - usna Husna - - - encourages a numberofthem to fallprey to Takfirs, inmostcases by chance; thus, escaping Therefore, beginning it istheconfusion within thosethat are at thevery newto Islam that closeto the other a very Takfir visitorsMemishi. fromRexhep Aliu and Skopje, includingShukri believed theotherworshippers, andeventually becameideologically aligned withthem,and on Takfir tenets, notnecessarily throughout Islam.However, newto Islamand hewas very him that thosethingsare “forbidden” inIslam,whichreality theyare only forbidden based doing onethingoranother. The other worshippers (Takfiri) would immediately jumpand tell inhisdailylife;outside thesermons i.e. that hewas planningto goandvote; that hewas ally happensbetween suchworshippers. Eventually hewould talkaboutwhat hewas doing by location withotherworshippers ofthemosque, whowere Takfir, asocialisation whichusu- After thesermons, thisformer Takfiri inanear member would usuallygo to play video-games organisation andanoffice close by. the worshippers were TakfirMemishi, whoalsohadan Rexhep Aliu and andclose to Shukri in Prishtina where at thetimethere was no Takfir of imamholdingsermons, butthemajority to Islam,whichhappenedbefore practice his20s, hedecidedto goto the “Dardania” mosque ideology solelythrough hisdecisionto goto themosqueclosestto home. When hedecided withaformer an interview Takfir member, he explains how hehadfallenprey to the Takfir or whichthe Takfiri worshippers useeven ifandwhenimamsare not Takfir. Forinstance, in place theylive. These by chance canbethemosqueswhere Takfiri imamsprovide lectures, Those who newly begin to Islam would practice usually go to the closest mosque from the difficult todifferentiatebetween a credibleand legitimate imamand a Takfirimam. provide for risks peoplewhoare newto Islam.For many peoplethat are newto Islamitisvery growing continuously inKosovo, asithasbeenargued earlier, thesefew imamsandmosques Takfir ofsuchimamsandmosques. ideologyasvictims For instance, ofIslam withthepractice feelingand a community between the worshippers, whichmore than not embrace often the basedonthe the lectures Takfir tenets, thesemosquesalsoprovide asocialisation atmosphere same time, however, have aconsiderable ideological influence over their worshipers.Besides that there few are suchimamsandmosquesinKosovo very andotherplaces, whichat the mosques are intentionally usedby Takfir imams to spread theideology.It shouldbenoted ute to Takfirization. that some The intentional oftheseinstruments includesthefact aspect there isanintentional andunintentional oftheseinstruments ortools that aspect contrib Syria. Oneoftheinstruments ortools theyuseismosquesandimamsthemselves; however, ology, steps to betakenbefore whichisoneofthefirstnecessary convincing them to go to Takfirs useanumberofinstruments and tools to radicalize and recruit peopleinto theiride 7.1. 7. remism ext Instr T he issuewithmosquesandimams( nts f uments and recr acilit a uit ting violent T ment akfir vs. non- T akfir) - - - 77 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 78 Occasional paper by KCSS fight Assad’s regime inpractice. against joiningthefights in Syria, yet theymay have unintentionally facilitated thedesire to circles that facilitate theirway to Syria. Thus, there are someimamswhohave spoken directly them to goto Syria andfight the “Shi’ia regime” ofBasharal Assad, andthusfallunder Takfiri not wanting to embrace radical ideologies, teachings againstShi’ias canespeciallymotivate energetic,shippers canbeyoung butvery expressive, andready andbesides to takeaction, join thefights against Assad, whobelongs to aShi’ia himself. Alewi sect types of These wor speak illoftheShi’ias, canunintentionally contribute to afew oftheirworshippers’ desire to number of imams) that belong to and teach the non-violent Islam, conservative yet at times cially theShi’ias. AnumberofimamsinKosovo few compared (very to thetotal inproportion Syria iswheninsomecasestheyspeakillofotherreligions, cultures, andtraditions, butespe facilitate andunintentionally stimulate someoftheirworshippers’ desire to jointhefights in Another unintentional ofimamsandmosquesthat canplay arole aspect orthat canindirectly potential prey. who provide simple answers to complicated questions, and behave extremely well towards don’t stay closeto theirworshippers, theymight easilyescapeandbeattracted to TakfirImams have. ings, whichprovide answers andtheological to questionsthat practical worshippers usually jenaze (non-Takfir) mustalsohold responsibility, becausetheygoanddealwith“vain words” and tional consequences. For instance, animamin Ahmed Kalaja, Tirana, says that someimams imams are ignorant towards theirworshippers, withsuchignorance someuninten ensuring - and thosenewinIslamfallprey to Takfir, ontheotherhand, iswhenanumberofnon-Takfir The unintentional of imams and mosques that can play aspect a role in having young people 392 391 390 389 388 387 number of Imams make amistakewhentheydon’tnumber ofImams stay closeto theirworshippers. Albania, whohasargued that inlengthwhy a oneshouldnotjointhefights in asserts Syria, are inneedofanswers, orsimplywant to hangaround. Mustafa Tërniqi, inDurres, anImam Islamists. from trueandcredible references to Islamrightfrom thebeginning oftheirlives aspracticing have beengiven by others, thenonecould loseworshippers to Takfir imams. non-Takfir imamsholdtheirsermons, andifimamsare not attentive to what their worshippers 2015. Tirana, Albania. 2015. Tirana, aAlbania basedimam whodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, withK.A. 24January Interview Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, 2015.Durrës, Albania. ary with Interview T.M. aAlbanian basedimamwhodoes notlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, 24Janu- 2015.Durrës, Albania. ary with Interview T.M. aAlbanian basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, 24Janu- Ibid. Albania. 2015. Tirana, aAlbania basedimamwhodoesnotlimithimselfonlyto aHanafilegalschool, withK.A. 24January Interview 388 (funerals) ceremonies instead offocusing onproper andfundamental Islamicteach- Some otherimams(non-Takfir) Some alsodonotstay close to their worshippers, whenthey 387 390 , 391 Takfirs usuallydistribute booksandliterature even inthemosqueswhere 392

389 If Imams Imams If - - 398 397 396 395 394 393 mosques inKosovo is1,125to 660,oralmost1.7schoolsto 1mosque. pared to Turkey. schoolfacilitiesand andsecondary The ratio between thenumberofprimary school facilities and the number of mosques is much higher in Kosovoand secondary com - involvement as foreign fighters in Syria. For instance, the ratio between the number of primary causefor hasasanapriori asociety’ssociety radicalisation causefor orasanapriori people’s However, or oneshouldnotlookat themosquesornumberofthat acountry ing foreign foreign cultural whichtheyseeasvery practices inthesecountries. and Europe becausetheyfinditasanalternative way Islamin ofpracticing response to reject that more radical Islamisfollowedasserts by andpracticed communities Muslim inAmerica in terms oftheirtradition, whichisdifferent to the traditions.western Christian JohnEsposito countriestion in these non-Muslim is alienated by the ‘foreign’ cultures they live in, especially ulations that end up as foreign fighters in Syria. The first assumption is that Muslim popula- the to the Takfir ideology, resulting inahighernumberpercapitaoftheir Muslim pop respective population of Western European countries are majority and othernon-Muslim attracted more There are two assumptionsthat could bemadeto explain andunderstandwhy theMuslim US, andRussia” inChapter 4above). country, includingRussia(see Table 1 of foreign“Number fighters from Western Europe, Balkans, lim population compared to Kosovo, orcompared to any other Western majority non-Muslim ...Turkey isstillat thebottom ofthelistnumberforeign fightersMus- percapita people, whilein Turkey there is1mosqueper907people. Therefore, despite that: Examining thenumberofmosquesperpopulation, there is1mosqueinKosovo per2,730 schools inKosovo thanmosques, whilethere are many more mosquesthanschoolsin Turkey. on theotherhand, is42,442to 82,693,or0.5schoolsto 1mosque. Salafists who Salafists tell you to pray, action”. fastandwhoare nottaking the jihadiguys whowillfeed you more propaganda savoury thantheoldpropaganda ofthe that asserts similarly “[w]hen you’re inthestate ofsuchalienation you become easyprey to • • • pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html Bruce Livesey (2005). Movement” Salafist “The PBS:Frontline. Onlineavailable at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ JohnEsposito (2011). Everyone Needsto aboutIslam”. Know “What Oxford Press. University p.55 haberturk.com/yasam/haber/825261-turkiyede-kac-cami-var Haber Turk (2013). “Türkí‎e’de camivar?”. kaç March Turk. 6,2013. Haber Onlineavailable at: http://www. tion. Onlineavailable at: http://www.oecd.org/edu/school/39642601.pdf OECD(2005). “Basic Education in Turkey: Background Report”. OECDReviews ofNational Policies for Educa- available at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-turns-blind-eye-to-illegal-mosques Xharra (2012). Besiana “Kosovo Turns BlindEye Mosques”. to Illegal 12,2012. Balkan Insight.Online January able at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosova-mbyll-syte-para-xhamive-ilegale Xharra (2012). Besiana “Kosova Mbyll Sytë Para Xhamive Ilegale” 12,2012.Balkan Insight.Onlineavail January - Turkey borders theISIScontrolled areas ofSyria the numberofmosquespercapitaisthree timeshigherin Turkey thanKosovo; andthat in Kosovo; the ratio between thenumberofschoolsandmosquesin Turkey isthree times lower than . p.9 398 395,396. 393,394. There are many more This ratio in Turkey,ratio This 397 GillesKepel - - 79 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 80 Occasional paper by KCSS the existence in ofsuchdormitories “Lagja eMuhaxherëve” former Takfiri confirmed member who with has the been author in of close this contact report, in the centre of Prishtina, where they hosted a number of young Islamic practitioners. D.T., a Lastly, there were also a few that dormitories the Takfiri circles have established, including Takfirs in town or influencedTakfiri citizens. shop keepersbelongto what as theydescribed ‘radical Islam’, isoneofthe whichwe suspect have to say aboutIslam.Oneoftheinterviewees, thefather ofA.G.,was sure that oneofthese who belongto anagegroup between 9-13years of age, andlisten to what theseshopkeepers They have confirmed that theyinvite anumberof young peoplefrom theirneighbourhoods, in these towns’ respective mosques, who pretend to to lecture much younger generations. alienated from theirfamiliesbecauseoftheformer’s conditions andnegative attitudes to the of aplace to stay. represented Such dormitories aroom where youngsters, urban who were centre ofPrishtina. These were dormitories hostingstudents andotheryoung people inneed involved inSyria During the interviews with an imam in the municipality of withanimaminthemunicipality theinterviews During Vitia tive mosques. worshippers andothers, andspeak differently (more radically) thantheyspeakintheir respec vate spaces where theBIKisaware ofanumberimamsthat organize gatheringswiththeir to in mosques, increasethat while they are- their they inspections cannot do so in pri trying spaces that the Takfir circles use. Bajgora,Sabri theheadofimamsinBIKalso confirmed based inMacedonia,Albania, andKosovo; however, theymay notbeasintense asinprivate Calls to based on join ISIS and lectures Takfir ideological tenets are present in a few mosques 7.2. 403 402 401 400 399 which hewas notaware of, inoneofA.F.’s inHaniiElezit. apartments has noticed that his son was frequently attending and meetings, some lectures the details of arrested) apartment. The father of A.G. (another person who was in Syria and was arrested), 2014 police raids were frequently gathered inA.F.’s (anotherpersonthat was inSyria andwas “ more simpleterms to their alienated state countries. innon-Muslim otherwords, In theyuse prey to Takfir references media( inelectronic countriesimams arelikeKosovo majority inMuslim and Turkey, theycanmuchmore easilyfall not ascloseto in contact andindirect Western countries non-Muslim asmosquesandcredible need to follow as a reference to Islamic teachings. populationamongst theMuslim inthesecountries inregards to theimamsandscholarsthey The second assumption, which relates to the first onein many ways, confusion is the very Y ouTube imams” asareference to Islam. This doesnothave to doanything isanoldPrishtina withLavdrim It quarter. Muhaxheri. Visit to A.G.’s family, 15December 2014.HaniiElezit, Kosovo. withB.B., Interview aKosovo basedimam. Vitia. Kosovo Visit to A.G.’s family, 15December 2014.HaniiElezit, Kosovo. 25 withB.S.,November ahighofficialinBIK. 2014. Interview Prishtina, Kosovo. Dormitories andotherprivate spaces 399 For instance, agroup ofindividualswhowere arrested theAugust during of 402 , itwas confirmed that theyhave seena few shopkeepersand worshippers Y ouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) whichspeakin Given that mosques and credible imams are 403 401 (“Muhaxheris’ inthe Quarter) , andaparent ofonethose 400

- uses to reach outto potential fighters in Europe andelsewhere inthe world. recruit fighters from around the world. tothorities track violent extremistgroups ontheonehand, thesegroups usetheinternet to sword intheworld ofterrorism; whileitisusefulforthe internet isadouble-edge state au- to useinternet. internet penetration rate inKosovo is76.62percent interms ofthenumberusersclaiming aged to itsinternet extend coverage inmostremote areas ofthecountryside. For instance, the First, despite ofextremelypoorlivingconditions andinfrastructure inrural areas, Kosovo man- ceptible to bothreligionization andpotential violent radicalisation. in thecaseofKosovo that make itspopulation, especiallytheyounger generations, more sus- than thephysical suchasmosques, contact imams, andprivate spaces. There are two aspects one cannotruleoutthat inmany casesitcould beamuchmore effective recruitment tool do facilitate therecruitment andotherinstruments used efforts by ISIS recruiters inKosovo, havesuch propaganda efforts beensuccessful. While theinternet propaganda tools certainly fighters percapitathat have joinedISISanda few other rebel groups in itseemsthatSyria, ISIS propaganda videoshave alsopenetrated Kosovo, andjudging by thenumberofforeign region, andcanbecomparable to many EUmemberstates. the internet penetration rate andthenumberofinternet usersare amongthehighestin Despite Kosovo’s backward economic development, poverty, andrural underdevelopment, 7.3. 410 409 408 407 406 405 404 is 77.7percent, higherthantheKosovo average. held insuchdormitories, andtheywere frequently visited by Takfiri imamsfromMacedonia. decisions ofthelatter to Islam,found practice aplace. Takfiri basedlectures were continuously percent, are young ofthem,or94.21 (below 30years majority old),andtheoverwhelming many ways, asign ofthetimes”. withwhichIS[IS]iscurrentlyInternet issomethingunprecedented usingthe efficiency and, in &Charlie Saltman Marie Erin ganda activities, Winter from Foundation, Quilliam claimthat “the Ibid.,p.19 tion_and_usage_in_Kosovo.pdf munication Technology. Onlineavailable at: http://www.stikk-ks.org/uploads/downloads/Internet_penetra- Agron Fazliu (2013). Penetration“Internet andUsage inKosovo”. Kosovo ofInformationandCom- Association available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-uses-social-media-to-recruit-western-allies/ CBSNews (2014). “ISIS recruits fighters onlinecampaign”. through powerful August 29,2014.CBSNews. Online free/islamic-state-the-changing-face-of-modern-jihadism.pdf Foundation. Onlineavailable at: http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/publications/ andCharlie Saltman Marie Erin Winter (2014). “Islamic State: The Changing Face Jihadism”. ofModern Quillam date/2014/1022/ISIS-excels-at-recruiting-American-teens-Here-are-four-reasons-why-video 22, 2014.The Monitor. ChristianScience Onlineavailable at: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Up Husnaaq(2014). “ISIS excels at recruiting teens: American Here are four reasons why (+video)”. O . OnlineavailableStatistics at: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats4.htm Internet World Stats (2014). Users“Internet inEurope”. June30,2014.Internet World Stats UsageandPopulation withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. T he internet 409 The internet penetration rate interms ofthenumberusersinrural areas . p.18 407 ofahigh-tech propaganda machinethatThis ISIS isallpart 406 When itcomes to ISIS’s internet andonlinepropa- 410 ofinternetThe users, majority or53.66 . p.37 405 However, asHusnaaqreports, 408 ctober ctober - 404

81 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 82 Occasional paper by KCSS the day –around 3hoursa day. claim to use internet every day,claim to use internet every not more than10-15percent could Englishabove besaidto know anaverage level. more than 1,000 of his students with whom he has dealt with for years as a university lecturer, in Kosovo speak. areas. There isnodata regarding thelevel ofEnglishorotherforeign languagesthat people in Kosovo donotspeakforeign languages, ormore precisely English,especiallythoseinrural internet penetration andexposurethat, besidesgeneral belief, isthefact theyoung people Second, what could facilitate religionization andpotentially radicalisation through suchhigh extremely highexposure to onlinecontent. 15 Euros orlesspermonth for theirinternet use. internet is quite affordable for householdsinrural areas, 65percent ofwhichclaim to pay only 418 417 416 415 414 413 412 411 cent useitfor in Kosovo usetheinternet for Facebook, 65.37percent ofthemuseitfor and43.62per Skype, and implemented inKosovo inthepast15years. For instance, 73.29percent ofinternet users of thethingsthat oneshould, getthrough butdoesnotoften theeducation system installed of one’s life, aswell basicquestionsonexistential asanswer issues. somevery These are some ing languageincludethehundreds ofimamswhichtalkabouttheintricate oflecture issues that onegetsbored withquickly). The othercontent whichispredominant inAlbanian speak pop culture content to meaningful one’s (notvery life, pop songs, comedies, andother content and other activities. sports, What one can encounter mostly in the Albanian language is the there isinEnglishandothermajorforeign languages online alsousedfor education, culture, The internet content andisnothingcompared rich, inAlbanian to languageisnotvery what internet usersinKosovo usetheinternet intheAlbanian language. shown andillustrated inKosovo’s whichconfirms Association that 76.60percent report, of ICT ofyouthlanguages, to limitsthemajority Albanian languageonlyonlinecontent. This isalso andprofessors.versity lecturers toThe speakorunderstandEnglishotherforeign inability was alsoconfirmed in conversations regarding theissueofstudents’ languagewithotheruni- percent, useitfrom home. use itto read thenews, andonly10.76percent useitfor research andstudying. the internet for (ex. reading outofcuriosity G Wikipedia, Ibid.,p.46 Ibid.,p.46 tion_and_usage_in_Kosovo.pdf munication Technology. Onlineavailable at: http://www.stikk-ks.org/uploads/downloads/Internet_penetra- Agron Fazliu (2013). Penetration“Internet andUsage inKosovo”. Kosovo ofInformationandCom- Association could notunderstandit majority the overwhelming could notprovideThis that theauthorofthisreport isdueto thefact students withEnglishliterature because Ibid.,p.24 Ibid.,p.38 Ibid.,p.23 Ibid.,p.22 Y ouTube. However, out of an overall from the author’s observation encounter with 417 Ontheotherhandonly11.94percent ofinternet usersinKosovo use 411 In addition to the very strong additionto penetration thevery In rate inrural areas, the . p.43 413 414 and83.29percent claimto beusingitfor alongtimeduring Therefore, individualsfrom andrural bothurban areas have 412 Moreover, 86.76percent ofinternet users oogle search, etc.), only16.78percent 416 418 415 This - - against otherswas unjust. religious,pear to bevery saidthat what hewas seeingontheinternet aboutAssad’s crimes For instance, A.A.from Prishtina, whoalsofought for amonth inSyria, andwhodoesnotap sation, fallprey to suchemotionalappeals. individuals, especiallythosethat arespeaking already radicalized orintheprocess ofradicali- out ofhisinternationalist stance asahumanbeinghelpingotherbeings. internet ofinnocent people, andthekillings the crimes onthe includingchildren, that heobserved that his son died for Allah, said that his son was also attracted to fighting in because of Syria of one of the foreign fighters from Albania who lost hislife fighting in besides Syria, saying he alsosaidthat A.Hlockedhimselfintheroom alotwhenusingtheinternet. to goto Syria), claimedthat hesaw that nothingwrong hissonwas praying, withthefact but ing to him,andhefelt likeheneededto act. used the internet, where he saw Assad’s against children crimes in Syria, which was frighten- former foreign fighterKaçanik says in whoisfromSyria that hehadalotoffree timeandoften 425 424 423 422 421 420 419 don’t needfinancialaid, we needman to fight”. are sleepingandlistening to imamswhoare saying that we needonlyfinancialaid. No we sisters, theyare beheadingourchildren intheircradles, theyare ourhouses, burning andyou to joinISIS onthegrounds that [Assad“they army andISISenemies]are raping ourMuslim videos in the Albanian language, Muslims Lavdrim called on all Albanian speaking Muhaxheri children andtheir “Muslim sisters”. For instance, inoneofthewidelycirculated recruitment process ofradicalisation by showing what theyusuallyclaimto beAssad’s against crimes that would makeanemotionalappealto thosealready radicalized orthosethat are inthe and appear to betheonesmostlyusedby theinternet usersinKosovo, suchasFacebook, Skype, The three socialmediacommunication channelsmostutilized by imamsandradical networks been clickedmore than51,000times for Allah”), was publishedon the fighting in Syria. For instance, Nusret Kurtishi’s songcalled “Lufta për Allah” war (“The There are also emotionally appealing songs in Albanian language, which make calls to join Y clicked, watched orlisten to suchvideos. person canclicksuchvideosmany times, butitdoes indicate that aconsiderable numberofindividualshave Note that thenumnber ofclicksdoesnotmeanthat ithasbeen viwed by that many people, since asingle able at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZr3Gwxi A1(2014). “A1 detyren”. bëri Djali Prindërit vritet nëSiri, -Shqiptari në A1Report: Report Youtube. Onlineavail- Visit to Mentor Zejnullahu’s family, 3December 2014. Viti, Kosovo muxhahedini-kosovar-i-kthyer-nga-siria-jam-penduar-qe-shkova-atje-ajo-lufte-nuk-na-perket-neve-11338/ neve”.na përket May Express. 1,2014.Gazeta Onlineavailable at: http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/rrefen- Visar (2014). Duriqi “ Rrëfen muxhahedinikosovar ikthyer Jampenduarqëshkova ngaSiria: atje, nuk ajoluftë Ibid. withA.A.aformer foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 18January watch?v=zhbWhgS6svc O nline.net Indeks (2014) Youtube“Lufta –Indeksonline“ neSiri . Onlineavailable at: https://www.youtube.com/ ouTube. is evident by now It that ISIS was successful in using the internet with content 424

420 A.A.felt likehehadto goandprotect Muslims, more butacted Y ouTube on19O 425 , whichmeansitwas listened to around 12,000times 422 Additionally, thefather ofA.H.(A.H. attempted 419 ctober 2014,andbyctober mid-February 2015ithas There are many othervideoswhere Albanian a4 423 421 The father The Another - 83 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 84 Occasional paper by KCSS to, andnow “not one, are but72brides waiting for him”. at thebeginning. The song talks about how were his prayers listened to fall shahid(martyr) 128,000 times, therefore listened to closeto 6,000timesamonth, even perhaps more often on effective inbrainwashing young peopleandcallingthem to action. Skopje, inSyria Abdullahu, inAugust Sami whowas 2013. killed one canfindthecure for theirsins. There isalsoanothersongwhichaboutan Albanian from the videowas clickedcloseto 100,000times, whichmeanscloseto 15,000timesamonth. whether his post had been watched, liked, shared or followed in general. When they take a to hisbasewhere A.A.was present, hewas rubbinghispalmsexcitedly andanxiously to see something onlineandwent offeither to fight in battle orelsewhere, andwhenhecameback which meansthenumberof howdescribes Lavdrim anxiousto seetheattention was very hewas gettinginsocialmedia, stance, A.A.,oneoftheformer foreign fighters in whohasmetLavdrimSyria thereMuhaxheri appears that instimulating socialmediahasasignificant their radical actions. impact For in- themselves, which could also bethe case for recruiters and propagators at homein Kosovo. It There oftheusesocialmediaby the isanotheraspect Takfiri individualsfighting in Syria ia by Albanian speaking ISISfighters.ia by Albanian speaking appear to behaving funintheswimmingpoolwhat appeared to beacaptured villainSyr 431 instance, a on behalfofreligion, buttheyalsoshow how theyengagein more pleasant For activities. They notonlyshow how anISIS fighter whotheycallkuffars pompouslybeheadsandburns in Syria andtheirrecruiters have alsousedthe ‘soft’ orthe ‘good’ ofbeinginvolved part injihad. foreign emotionallyappealingvideosandothercalls,Besides theAlbanian speaking fighters 434 433 432 430 429 428 427 426 which meansapproximately 13,000timesamonth. believer). singing to beheadingthe 19 year after have who they suspected oldIraqi been akafir Another videoappearsto show Lavdrim Muhxheri’s relaxing friends andhaving agoodtime a month. dia activities that woulddia activities boosthisego. Y ouTube on15September2013,andby mid-February 2015ithadbeenclicked more than Ibid. tube.com/watch?v=Ewu4bbLIajI Interview withA.A.aformer foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo, 2015. Prishtina, Kosovo. 18January Ibid. line available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXpRF-5T7C (2014). Musliu Ilir “Pas masakrës, iISIS’‘kasapi organizon festë meshokëteLavdrim Muhaxherit”. Youtube. On- Anon. (2014). “ 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealing withandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview Ibid. youtube.com/watch?v=7DCjCnFG2oM EbuRuvejda (2013). Sami “Hafiz Abdullahu (shehidinshaAllah)”. Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www. Online available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6M-sl27m9A Ibrahim Terzijaj (2014). “Nusret Kurtishi ‘’Lufta përAll-llah’’ Abdullahu 2014(Sami shehidinshaAllah)”. Youtube. ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 426 432 The song talks about how one should join and help the “brothers” in Syria where Y Ever since it was published on 30 July 2014, it was clicked roughly 75,000 times, ouTube jihadistswho videowas posted in 11 July2014withAlbanian speaking Xhihadistët Shqiptarë lahennëpishinë”. nëSiri Youtube. Onlineavailable at: https://www.you- Y ouTube views, Facebook ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ andothersocialme 430 Since itwas published, anduntil mid-February 2015, 434 According to A.A.,Lavdrim hadposted Muhaxheri 433

428 Y Suchpropaganda videosare very 427 429 The songwas published (un- 431 - -

1999, the SJCRK reported that the number 1999, of the aid SJCRK shipmentsreported sent by Arabia Saudi totalled 41 436 435 bin Abdul Aziz. based relief organisation, andat thetimechaired ofInterior, by Minister theSaudi Prince Naif Jointof theSaudi Committee for whichwas G aSaudi ofKosovo theRelief (SJCRK), of the waraftermath in1999. Among were the most active under the umbrella thoseworking A number of religious organisations charity have been established in Kosovo in the immediate andanalysedother hand, inthesamefashion. theissueoffinancingshouldbeobserved influences andideasofviolent ontheonehandandexternal onthe extremisms the society influences andeffortsextremism. Justlikethedivisionbetween external for religionization of of theirfunding, aswell ofsuchfundsinto aspotential radicalisation leakages andviolent organisations,gious charity mostlyfundedfrom theGulf, inorder thepurpose to deconstruct make anumberofconclusions inthisregard. We firstneed to dealinsomedetailwith reli- cause for joiningviolent extremist groups inKosovo orinSyria, thisresearch could, however, doesnotfindfinancing tobethe corethis report motive orcauseofone’s radicalisation ora The financingof radicalisation andviolent inKosovoextremism isdifficult to trace. Although 7.4. Ekrem Avdiu,Ekrem by beingconvinced to Islamistswhowere dosoby otherpracticing hisfriends. “wrong” and by ofEnisRama lectures listening to Islam,until hewas thevery de-radicalised Avdiu were theworst imams, “imams of taghut’, “corrupt imams”, etc., whichare preaching the to For getde-radicalized. instance, aformer Takfiri inKosovo, Rama andEkrem felt that Enis between thenew Takfirs andcredible imams;thislessensthe chances ofthe young Takfirs and othertagging andframing techniques whichthansuccessfully creates antagonisms which means “imams ofthestate”, “corrupt imams”, “imams whohave abandonedtrueIslam” ceive astheirfiercest competitors. They dothis by badmouthingthemas , “imams oftaghut” (non-violentSalafis inKosovo areasconservatives) whotheyper andother Albanian speaking credible references inIslam, which is the credible Imams, amongwhich are many so-called and theirdisoriented condition.bility Second, theyblockthenewcomers from legitimate and Islam, which usually involves manipulation of religion by responding to the newcomers’ insta- They dothisby first, usingsimplelanguage to give simpleanswers to complex questionsin brainwash andmentally ‘lock’ thenewcomers, especiallyyoung people, into theirideology. The Takfirs use mosquesthrough imams, private spaces, and theinternet, asinstruments to inorderactions, to getareaffirmation andasenseof worthiness. attention booststheiregoanditgives themasenseofpurpose, especiallyinrepeating such forpurpose repeating even orradicalizing theiractions, more. theiractions Therefore, such intheconventionalcially reported mediainKosovo andworldwide, itgives themasenseof are widelyfollowed andsuchactions radical action andwatched insocialmedia,andespe mosques, private spaces andtheinternet (socialmedia,etc). They tagandframe credible andlegitimate imamsby usingalltheseinstruments, including available at: http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/main/y0370.htm Fahd King (1999). binAbdul Aziz “A relief onSaudi for report Kosovo”. Press June13,1999.Saudi Agency. Online Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, F inances 436 Afew days following thedeployment ofNAT O troops inKosovo, on13June overnment 435 - -

85 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 86 Occasional paper by KCSS schools inKosovo’s rural areas, 1999”. allbuiltafter openly admits, according to IsaBlumi,to have supported “more than30specialized Koranic ic Endowment Foundation (IEF),anNGOwhichoperated under theumbrella oftheSJCRK, areas inKosovo intheimmediate ofthewar aid. dependedonSaudi aftermath for three years immediately thewar. after 446 madrasa inPrishtina, oftheUP. andithas completed ofthetechnical faculty thelaboratory on therenovation andbuildingofschoolsinvariouscitiesKosovo, therenovation ofthe DM, totalling around 8 million Euros. Islam in the Albanian language, 35 million SR, or around and cash donations 16 worth million other items, relief materials, dates, 42,000blanketsfor refugees, milk, on 110,000booklets Arabia for between 3to 6months. has askedtheSJCRKto finance thespecialization of20Kosovo doctors, whostayedSaudi in that theUniversity ofPrishtina hasalsobeenreported tion of10healthhousesonlyin1999.It sional Institutions of Self G ofSelf sional Institutions themeantime,In theSJCRKbuilt38mosquesand12schools, andeven financed the Provi - 448 447 446 445 444 443 442 441 440 439 438 437 is closelylinkedto government. theSaudi isation whichwas in Kosovo. active isabranch oftheMuslim It World League charity, which Al Haramein IslamicFoundation based organ Al Haramein) (henceforth: - was anothercharity of state institutionsbutotheraidorganisations aswell. have monopolized assistance especiallyinrural areas thewar, after dueto thelackofpresence war throughout Kosovo. sites. were sponsoredandassistance was by provided theJCRK, to 17,880refugees inanumberof Marks (DM),whichinEuroMarks terms would bearound 10millionEuros. (SR)ofshipments, Riyal 40millionSaudi orcloseto cargo 20millionDeutsche planes, carrying It hasbuilt200 newhomesandhasrenovated It more than260homesdestroyed the during sion_for_relief_and_charity_work_abroad_1 Commons. Onlineavailable at: http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=saudi_national_commis- H Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. able at: https://zeri.info/ekonomia/489/milionat-e-al-haramain-ne-kosove-foto/ Llapashtica Liridon (2014). e “Milionat “Al Haramain” nëKosovë (Foto)”. O Ibid.,p.15 Ibid.,p.14 the_Taliban_coming_to_the_Balkans.pdf available at: http://www.kipred.org/advCms/documents/14714_Political_Islam_Among_the_Albanians_Are_ IsaBlumi(2005). “Political IslamAmong theAlbanians: Are the Taliban Coming to theBalkans”. KIPRED. Online International Affairs. MasterofAts thesis. Transitional Advocacy that Network isChallenging aNewDemocracy”. Graduate The NewSchool Program in DimalBasha(2013). “ Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. 439 istory Commons (n.d.).istory “Profile:Saudi National Commission Relief andCharityfor Abroad”.Work History lobalization and the Rise of Salafism in Kosovo. ofSalafism Globalization andtheRise HowGulf Countries a Spearheaded 447 overnment UNMIK’s (PISG)during period. 444 438 The PISGhasalsoreceived around 360tons ofmedicine , p.14 By then, it was By already that 14,000 individuals reported 448 445 It was established in 1988 and it functioned until was establishedin1988anditfunctioned It The JCRK has also spent around 6millionEuros 443 The JCRKhasalsofinanced the renova- 441 As aresult, badconditions inrural ctober 2,2014. Zeri.info.ctober Onlineavail- 440 437 The SJCRKappeared to This included, among 442 The Islam- The

support for OsamabinLaden. support a suspiciousorganisation since itsfinancialofficial after went trialin to Egypt;he voiced his mosques worldwide between 1992-2001. 460 459 458 457 456 455 454 453 452 451 450 449 from Al rations. meals for worldwide between 1996-2001, theholymonth ofRamadan was awell financed2004. It organisation andit isestimated that ithas financed 25million ganisation closelyrelated to theBIK’s Naim Mufti Tërnava. cording inKosovo was to onitsactivities, anor that mediareports andjournalists reported Another organisation active inKosovo was Al whichac Waqf Al Al Islam(henceforth: Waqf), Al Qaida Sanctions CommitteeAl Qaida Sanctions since 2004. branches theNetherlands, in Albania, Bosnia, and other places Council are listed onSecurity fired 2004. fromSaudi minister AlHaramainby the of thecharity religious affairsinJanuary organisation. Osama binLaden,orthe Taliban. Committee Sanctions Council asbeingassociated Al-Qaida withAl-Qaida, listed onSecurity groups’ For actions. instance, thefounder ofAl Haramain, Aqeel Abdulaziz Aqeel al-Aqeel, was accused ofbeinglinkedto andfinanced organisations like Al Qaidaandotherviolent extremist work inKosovo, theirimmensecharity Besides Al- Haramain andAl Waqf insomecaseswere in Kosovo under UNMIK from 1999 to 2005. possession ofthisorganisation, ithasrecently that ithasalsofinanced beenreported thePISG BIK to buildnewmosquesandto refurbish thedamagedones. Eindhoven, theNetherlands. Kosovo. organisation inKosovo, butoperates asa “physical person” ofapolyclinic centre “Mekka” in Ibid. Ibid. http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/AQList.htm to andotherentities individuals, associatedspect groups, withAl-Qaida”. undertakings Onlineavailable at: United Nations (2015). Committee Listestablished andmaintained Sanctions withre by theAl-Qaida “The jton-ojqne-financuese-te-al-kaidase-jeton-ne-kosove-mqe-leje-te-refugjatit-26738/ tit”. Express. July5,2014.Gazeta Onlineavailable at: http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/irakiani-qe-e-dre Visar (2014). Duriqi qëedrejton OJQ’në“Irakiani financuese të Al-Kaida’së jeton nëKosovë meleje të refugja - Online available at: http://www.rimse.gr/2014/01/al-waqf-al-islami-in-balkans.html Europe IslamMonitorinSoutheast (2014). Radical “Al Waqf-Al IslamiintheBalkans”. 24,2014.Rimse. January freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/898567/posts Free (2003). Republic “Al Qaeda ‘financed from Eindhoven’”. FreeRepublic. Onlineavailable at: http://www. 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealing withandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview Ibid. Ibid. able at: https://zeri.info/ekonomia/489/milionat-e-al-haramain-ne-kosove-foto/ Llapashtica Liridon (2014). e “Milionat “Al Haramain” nëKosovë (Foto)”. O Ibid.,p.86 (2011). M.A.Salloomi ePafajshme“Viktimat nëLuftën GlobaleKundër Terrorit”. AuthorHouse TMUKLtd . p.85 452 457 Haramein, and some money has also been distributed to a number of media corpo ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. In 1999,theUniversity ClinicalCentre In inKosovo hasreceived 2millionDMfrom the

453

455 460 Al Waqf’s branch inKosovo receives regular requests from the It isinteresting It that, Arabia besidesbeingbasedinSaudi and 458 As aresult, Al-Aqeel andthree otherseniorofficials were 450 459 451 According to firsthanddocuments that were in The Al Haramein branch inAlbania was listed as The PISG has received a total of 18 million Euros 454 Al Waqf in hasitsheadquarters ctober 2,2014. Zeri.info.ctober Onlineavail- 456 It isnotregistered It asan 449 andithasbuilt1,200 - - - - - 87 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 88 Occasional paper by KCSS ened by the Takfir andviolent thatextremists follow suchanideology. organisations inKosovo, basedcharity Saudi Arabia Saudi follows theUS,asitisitselfthreat ArabiaSaudi hasimmediately followed suit. According to R.H.,aformer worker at anumberof isasifby tradition thatIt whatever organisation orpersontheUSplaces onits list”,“black terrorist asonlythe Dutch activities, branch hasbeeninvestigated.” that “it to note there isimportant isnoproof theFoundation was involved actively [Al in Waqf] branch in Bulgaria had close links to the Mufti inBulgaria. branch hadcloselinksto inBulgaria theMufti Just likeAl Waqf’s closelinkto andcooperation withtheBIKinKosovo, thesameorganisation’s furthermore wasasaradical described Islamicgroup.furthermore Netherlands’ also identified intelligence Al service Waqf asoneof several extremist groups and provided financial support providedto the Al Qaida terror financial support network. directors since Arabian 1991),isincludedinalistof20Saudi business leaders alleged to have Similarly, Al Waqf ‘s director at aninternational level, Ahmad Al Hussaini(amemberofboard of partment, a numberofindividualsasshown listoftheUS by thedocument ofsanctions Treasury De 471 470 469 468 467 466 465 464 463 462 461 jointly finances to of blockthesuspected terrorism. come arecruiting ground for a war”.“holy the Netherlands’ hasalsodiscovered intelligence service theAl Waqf mosquesto have be a raid on the offices of one Saudi based charity a raidorganisation Bosnia. ontheoffices in Saudibasedcharity ofone saysreport that Al Hussaini’s namewas found police onalist, whichtheBosnian found during to how thismemberofAl Qaidadrew orprovided thislistto authorities, becausethesame with personswhocommit, threaten terrorism” to commit, orsupport on2June2004. have jointly listed Al Haramein ontheirlistfor andprohibiting transactions property “blocking in many ofbeingguidedby state casessuspected aSaudi policy, Arabia bothSaudi andtheUS ment, justlikeinKosovo, Al Waqf hasbuiltseveral mosquesandunregistered madrassas in being linkedto Al Qaidaby anAl Qaidamemberhimself. Ibid. Ibid. tion-.html line available at: http://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/10/1049887_-eurasia-radical-islam-in-bulgaria-an-investiga - G Bryan Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/898567/posts Free (2003). Republic “Al Qaeda ‘financed from Eindhoven’”. FreeRepublic. Onlineavailable at: http://www. Islamic Foundation”. From theO Treasury News (2002). “FactHerzegovina SheetDesignations andBosnia- Branches ofSomalia ofAl-Haramain it-finance/Documents/designationsum-.pdf U.S. of Department Treasury (n.d.). Onlineavailable at: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/terrorist-illic withR.H.ayoung inKosovo, Islampractitioner Interview 12February 2015.Prishtina, Kosovo. it-finance/Documents/designationsum-.pdf U.S. of Department Treasury (n.d.). Onlineavailable at: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/terrorist-illic 031102fact.html 463 old (2008). IslaminBulgaria”. culmination ofmy Radical internship- “The July26,2008. Wikileaks. On- as well as with a number of charity organisations aswell andbranches, aswithanumberofcharity where theyacted ffice of Public Affairs. Onlineavailable at: http://fas.org/irp/news/2002/03/dot 469 However, thesame documentWikileaks alsoadds 464

468 According to a WikiLeaks document, 466 465 471 However, itisdifficult to as verify Al According to a WikiLeaks docu- Hussaini’s name was drawn as 470 467

462 A report issuedby the Areport Suchisthecasewith 461

------which theEUfollowed suit. supports individualswhoare sympathetic to violentsupports extremistgroups, andalsoinMacedonia. 477 Kosovo since 2002. Waqf inKosovo isledby citizen, anIraqi to Abdur Rezaq, have whoisreported in beenactive financing terrorism. ist groups inKosovo; however theorganisation isonthe KIA’s organisations listofsuspected There hasbeennoevidence (at leastnotinpublic)ofAl Waqf’s for any support violent extrem- in Kosovo hasexpired, hecontinues to live inKosovo andcontinues hiswork withAl Waqf. mbudsperson on this de-listing request”. oftheOmbudspersononthisde-listing Report Councilpursuant resolution to considering theComprehensive Security 1904(2009),andafter ing requests for thisnamesubmitted through theO 480 479 478 477 476 475 474 473 472 Bulgaria. Hezbollah, are involved inany way serious inBulgaria”. real evidence besideswhispersandrumoursthat any othermovement, namelyalQaedaand only organisation to inBulgaria beconsidered aradical group Muslim there inBulgaria, is “no reported besidestheoff-hand reported reference ofIslamicinfluence. orthepossibility Haramein Foundation branch listasof28O intheUSAfrom itssanctions Committee CouncilSanctions hasremoved terrorism,Al-Qaida theSecurity theAl porting Council,mediately theSecurity have after listed Al Haramain undertheorganisations sup radical extremistgroups. For instance, despite that theUS,followed by Arabia, Saudi andim- organisations havecharity offinancingandsupporting beenestablishedwiththepurpose sympathetic to violent andradical extremistgroups; however, itisdifficult to say that these individualsaffiliatedorganisations insuchcharity isclearthatare toand certain working It www.un.org/press/en/2014/sc11618.doc.htm List”.(United States Sanctions from ofAmerica) Its O United Nations (2014). Committee CouncilSanctions Deletes Al-Haramain Al-Qaida Foundation“Security sanctions_alert_issue_30.pdf oise&Plimpton. Onlineavailable at: http://www.debevoise.com/~/media/files/insights/publications/2014/11/ Debevoise&Plimpton (n.d.). news andevents”. ofsanctions Abi-monthly summary Alert: “Sanctions Debev www.un.org/press/en/2014/sc11618.doc.htm List”.(United States Sanctions from ofAmerica) Its O United Nations (2014). Committee CouncilSanctions Deletes Al-Haramain Al-Qaida Foundation“Security USEmbassySkopje(2007). “Macedonia: A/SO kaidane-vazhdon-ndertimin-e-xhamive-ne-kosove-22390/ Express.2014. Gazeta Onlineavailable at: http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/organizata-qe-financoi-al- Visar (2014). Duriqi “ jton-ojqne-financuese-te-al-kaidase-jeton-ne-kosove-mqe-leje-te-refugjatit-26738/ tit”. Express. July5,2014.Gazeta Onlineavailable at:http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/irakiani-qe-e-dre Visar (2014). Duriqi qëedrejton OJQ’në“Irakiani financuese të Al-Kaida’së jeton nëKosovë meleje të refugja - Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. 2008. Wikileaks. Onlineavailable at: http://cables.mrkva.eu/cable.php?id=119557 472 The same WikiLeaks however, report, notes that besidessuspicionsthat thisisthe 475 476 It has also been reported that despite hasalsobeenreported that Abdur Rezaq’s It resident permit Organizata qëfinancoi “Al-Kaida’në” exhamive nëKosovë”. vazhdon ndërtimin June17, Al Haramein and Al Waqf have been identified asanorganisation that 479 This occurred “after concluding itsconsideration ofthede-list ’brien ’brien Visit H ctober 28,2014.United Nations.ctober Onlineavailable at:http:// 28,2014. United Nations.ctober Onlineavailable at: http:// ighlights Terrorism Financing Issues”. August 22, ffice oftheOmbudspersonestablished 473 480 It alsonotes that nothinghasbeen It ctober 2014, ctober 474 Similarly, Al 478 - - in - -

89 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 90 Occasional paper by KCSS taghut and was continuously propagating ananti-state based onclear rhetoric Takfiri tenets ofcalling was a Takfir was fired in 2007 because it was clear that he would not give up his Takfir ideology nelled to Osama binLaden’s terrorist organization”. andthatwas few diverted ofthosewhoworked for moneywas- beingfun Al-Haramain knew to him,even theUSofficials haveprivately admitted that “only asmallpercentage ofthe total ideology. that thererule outthefact may have been employees intheorganisation whoembrace Takfiri Waqf’s were missionandactivities exclusively works, concerned withcharity hewould not worked for thisorganisation for several years that whileAl hastold theauthorofthisreport Such appearsto bethecasewithAl Waqf inKosovo. Aformer employee ofAl Waqf whohas 487 486 485 484 483 482 481 Iraqi citizen,Iraqi would even hire inorder them. suchindividualsonpurpose to de-radicalize violent extremist groups from a “logistical andphilosophical” standpoint. stated that suchreligious organisations individualsto are support being(mis)used by certain for terroristsecretary crimes financingandfinancialatthe U.S hasalso Department Treasury charity that has stayedcharity open despite repeated attempts to shut it down overseas”. Cosgrove-MatherBootie hasalsoargued how Al Haramain “provides theclearest example ofa list oforganisations to have suspected linkswithAl Qaida,andinaddition,theUNrecently groups, USbranch ofAl Haramain was thevery recently Council delisted from theSecurity being accused by theUSandothersofbeinglinkedto Al Qaidaandother violent extremist in financingviolent radical groups. The strongest evidence that, despitefor thisisthefact isations; however, oneshouldbecareful to notaccuse entire organisations ofbeinginvolved right whenheclaimedthat itmakesdifficult todigoutthebad from thegoodinsuch organ- ployees inoneway oranotherthe orcontractors andsupport Takfir JuanZarate activities. was has, that there individualswitha are certain Takfir ideologythat ‘infiltrate’ themselves asem- firi groups inKosovo outright;however, finds, Bootie justlike this Cosgrove-Matther report These organisations majorworldwide therefore, charity cannotbeaccused ofsupporting Tak police. is oneofthe Takfir imamsandisamongthosearrested the during recent raids by theKosovo the same time fight the ideology themselves.Takfiri calize a few graduates that came back from Egypt, who todayas imams in Kosovo serve and at confirmed that the directorfurthermore of former Al Waqf inKosovo- hasmanaged to de-radi Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, Ibid. Ibid. Kosovo. withD.T. Interview aformer extremistbelonging to Takfir circles inKosovo,December 16 2014. Prishtina, Ibid. Ibid. able at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/al-qaeda-skimming-charity-money/ Cosgrove-Mathers Bootie (2004). “Al Money”. Charity QaedaSkimming June7,2004.CBSNews. Onlineavail- and 484 According to him,the thendirector oftheorganisation inKosovo, whowas an kafir against anything related to state institutions. 482 486 JuanZarate, aformer assistant deputy

One of the employees of Al Waqf who 487 The employee that was fired 483

481 According 485 He - never having to thinkoffood, shelter, andclothes. former foreign said that heKaçanik, had better fighter Kaçanik, conditions from in ISIS than in themoneyandgivewho together collect themto foreign potential victim fighters. T.U., a cashprovided cateby petty that thefinancing is supported by a numberof individuals Takfiri people’s transfer to Syria, anumberofsources, institution,indi- includingone state security know whereficult to these organisations getthe fundsfrom, butwhen it comes to financing himself; thisorganisation was never registeredhimself; withtherelevant state institutions. with closetiesto to Lavdrim have whoisreported Muhaxheri, establishedtheorganisation Kosovo andtheirattempts to takeyoung people to Syria. Islame”“Rinia was anorganisation oftheseorganisations Both are to have reported based inKaçanik. beenlinkedwith Takfirs in tural Association Islame”“Rinia (“Islamic to considerOn theotherhand, afew organisations itisimportant suchastheCul localcharity - 490 489 488 despite beinglisted for alongperiod. removed oneofthefounders ofAl Al-Buthe, Haramain, list, Soliman offthe Al Qaidasuspect Interview with Interview T.U., aformer foriegn fighter from Kosovo, Kosovo.Kaçanik, December 15 2014. gisht-ne-perzgjedhjen-e-imamit-te-kacanikut-dhe-e-kercenon-ate-me-jete/ atë mejetë”. May 12,2014.Ekuiliber. Onlineavailable at: http://ekuiliber.com/lavdrim-muhaxheri-thote-se-ka- (2014). Ekuiliber dheekërcënon gisht eimamittë “Lavdrim Kaçanikut nëpërzgjedhjen thotë seka Muhaxheri able at: http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/un-takes-charity-founder-al-qaeda-list JeffBarnard (2013). list”. “UNtakescharity founder off Al-Qaeda 12,2013. Arqab News. February Onlineavail- 488 Y outh”) andShoqata “Parimi” (“Principle” Association) 490 . 489 It isdif- It 91 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 92 Occasional paper by KCSS Diagram 2:C Diagram 8. 3) Rural underdeveloped anddevastated communities mostlyignored; 4)H the1999systemic disorientation after 1) Societal transformation; 2) Weak economic andpoliticalconditions; questioned andconsidered `14)orotherthingshaving notserious; to dowithone’s personaldecision state institutions’ 12)Poor de-legitimization; investments ofeducation highly 13)Quality ineducation sector; citizens’ concerns; 9)Loss oftrustinstate institutions10)Growing trustinreligious institutions; 11)Secular citizens’ concerns by domesticpoliticalelite; 8)More space for imamsandreligious to authorities dealwith level anddiscrimination; 6)H ofsocialinequality practice Islam practice Continuation Decision toDecision in Islam The onditions andprocess facilitating thephenomenonofforeign fighters pr ocess 3 4. The Takfir worshipper from Kosovo istrained andjoinsthefight 3. Takfir imamin Kosovo refers andgives theguarantee 2. Commander needsareference to prevent suspicion to1. Decision fight 1) quick way into Islam6)Family andsocialisolation education; 3)Previous records; criminal 4)Needfor forgiveness; 5)Desire for a Brainwash aMuslimworshipper (usually “Lock” the Takfir worshippers mentally Y Worshipper of becomes part Takfir oung, shallow, light-minded, noexperience; 2)Negative attitude towards (potential foreign fighters) C ommunity of ommunity Takfir in 2 Process new to Islam) Worshippers Propagators community Recruiters Kosovo Imams igh corruption instate institutions;7)Loss ofinterest for 1 Prey to TakfirPrey igh level of poverty; 5)H igh level ofpoverty; -Private businesses - Takfir employed organisations incharity - Takfir cash worshippers Finances -Skype - Youtube -Facebook/Twitter Internet -state structures -ofcredible imams -ofsociety De-legitimization -Shops -Dorms/Rooms -Apartments Private spaces Mosque – Takfir Imam 4 C Receiving guarantor (i.e. commander) ommunity offoreignommunity fighters in Instruments S Foreign fighter yria andIraq igh tal and radical in only their thinking rather than in action, whomay rather more thaninaction, tal andradical readily in onlytheirthinking engagein among theradical andviolent extremist worshippers, butalsothosethat are more fundamen- violent extremists, them,willonlyreinforce oreven killing andlegitimize theirradical ideas utilize upreligious Locking to legitimize figures theiragenda,andthus gainsupport. including inIslamthat the concept ofmartyrdom very Takfir andotherviolent and extremists radicals as Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the self declared Caliphas Abu Bakr of the so calledIslamic State (ISIS). inEgypt (thefounder of Shukri Mustafa Takfir wal H ancient radical thinkerslikeIbn Teymiyyah, to more ones, inEgypt, modern Qutb likeSayyid extremist ideas, from itisclearthat themostradical more ideascameoutofprisons. Starting ever, ofthedevelopment ofviolent hasshown history by asthisreport going through ashort ing violent extremistswho poseathreat to theconstitutional order andthestate itself. How candotheirjob,State structures security andby nature itinvolves usingforce, at bestarrest counterproductive consequences. at structures theforefrontputting state security ofdealingwiththeconsequences, canhave little to improve. can do very structures security Certainly, dealing with the consequences, i.e. fight against establishmentcorruption, ofamore justsystem andajuststate, somethingthe ofeducation, economicsuch asthosedealingwiththequality development andprosperity, ofothersectors, structures little to dealwiththecauses, ascauseslay withinthepolicymaking duced an even a more notorious organisation/entity can do – ISIS. State structures security not defeated. As aresult, theworld isfree ofO sama binLaden,butnotofhisideasthat pro thatboth hisideasandtheconditions produce andfactors andsustainhisideaswere certainly most wanted andnotorious violent extremist, OsamabinLaden. While thelatter was killed, Transposing thisinto similarcasesat globallevel, ofthe onecantaketheexample ofthekilling alleviating willby thecauses(conditions andfactors), logic reproduce theconsequences. use offorce ofvariousmagnitudes. withtheconsequences Dealing (foreign fighters), by not sitate institutionssuchasthepolice, theengagement ofsecurity whichby nature involves the focusing theattention ontheconsequences aheadofthecauses (range ofissues),willneces - wards deviations that happen within and through religion on theother hand. This means that ontheonehandandreligious institutions, inmostcases,policymaking to through inaction conditions, factors, and issues in various sectors, including state (secular) institutions through the diagram intheprevious Chapter shows, foreign fighters are the consequence ofa range of social media,mostoftheattention tends to focus onforeign fighters themselves. However, as intelligence –usuallythrough structures, orthesociety conventional andothersecurity and When dealingwiththeissueofforeign fighters inKosovo, beitthestate –usuallythrough its 9.1. 491 9. they lived their respective during periods. radical thinkers inIslam,andoneshouldjudgethem basedonthecircumstances andconditions underwhich doesnotclaimthat theyshareThis are report thesameideas, considered buttheycertainly someofthemore The Implications ofdealingwiththeconsequences unintendd c onsequnces ijra), andonto themore recent onessuch 491 It is the It - - - - 93 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 94 Occasional paper by KCSS energetic young peoplethat are newto Islam. reinforcement ofa Takfirs’ ofthearguments utility ofan “unjust state” to recruit thevulnerable however, usingapoorstrategy insuchcasescanresult inunintended consequences andthe legally andlegitimately dealwithspecificindividuals whomay poseathreat to law andorder; worshippers inKosovo andpractitioners have come to develop. only reinforces theideathat “Islam isunderattack” andreinforces the “siege mentality” Muslim within the Islamic community worldwide.within theIslamiccommunity extremists’ andendeavours actions come asaresult that of theirsenseofinferiority exists and radicalisation at aconference, heldinPrishtina inNovember 2014.Heclaimedthat the former director oftheG this case a secularstate, should be fought against. Similar were the claims of Udo Steinbach, a Takfirs, since one of their main ideological tenets is that a state, which is not an Islamic state, in cation orthesenseofapplication ofdoublestandards produces anoutcome desirable for the double standards thatvery they believe a secular state, and in this case Kosovo, applies. Appli- that couldAnother potentially aspect legitimize violent extremistsandtheirideologyisthe 9.2. 494 493 492 ofthearrestedthe eyes oftheirworshippers majority andotherswhentheoverwhelming The that the conspiracy Takfirs usually use against the secular state in becomes almost a fact tions by theprosecution preceding sucharaid, ing around 50peopleonbulkcharges ofterrorism, withonly29days ofofficial investiga- lievers ready, especiallytheyounger ones, for (whatever) a “call to action”. For instance, arrest protected”. muchpresentsThis avulnerable very state siegementality thebe ofmind, making ly common trend. They allshare theideathat “Islam isunderglobalattack” andit “should be thinkers, andforeign fighters themselves, canpulloutoneparticular theauthorofthis report aswellconstitutes aswiththeformer majority), radicals theoverwhelming andcurrent radical ly. aseveral In months longinteraction withliberal, non-violent worshippers Muslim (which These issuesare exacerbated whenstate dealwith theconsequences structures unmindful- recruits. inlight oftheargumentsa fact, theyusewiththeirworshippers andpotential ideological applied by a secular state, especially towards that suddenly becomes– a conspiracy Muslims entire would community beblamed. They basethisonwhat theyclaimto beanunjustsystem while theybelieve that ifsuchanexplosive wasby caughtbeliever, aMuslim beingcarried an explosives,the capture citizen whereby carrying ofaSerbian heisblamedasanindividual, KosovoIn there are many casesofthisutilisedby extremists; oneofthem,for instance, being quote theapplication ofdoublestandards allover again,asatool usedto gainlegitimacy. religious figures by using force, itwillmore thannotencourage often theirideas. asaresult.violent actions When thestate dealswith ‘respected’ religious extremistsorother 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealingwithandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview Ibid. UdoSteinbach (2014). “Political IslamandRadicalisation”. FES Conference. November 12-21,2014. ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. Implications ofdoublestandards erman Institute for EastStudies, Institute erman Middle whotalkedonpoliticalIslam 492 Also, according to him,theextremistspickupand 494

boosted mediacoverage, by overwhelming

State agenciescan security 493 - - -

495 course. Such opposing defensive modes have also resulted in the growing alienation between inadefensive are ofsociety acting relationship modeintheirmutualdirect inpublicdis- part inadefensive ofsociety mode.part This meansthat boththenon-religious andthereligious to more liberal of the non-religious secular ideasandvalues, hasalsoput, by part reaction, tion of society, which means the embrace for more ideas and conservative values as opposed that thegrowing isevident andgeneral from observations anumberofreports religionizaIt - 9.3. lam”. ra. When replied askedwhat isthenews that about,the M.K. are“Masons conspiring againstIs- where he was found watching Turkish channels, and news- appeared of the bomb plot in Anka For instance, visited ISIS recruiters, one of the suspected when the author of this report M.K., The Takfirs filltheir worshippers’ mindswith various conspiracies againstsecularstate policies. their Imam’s arrest. much like the worshippers sounded very Takfirsafter by finding some reason in such thinking that arrested him.D.D. felt that hewas putinabadposition,and althoughtheywere not, his arrested, becausehehadencouraged themthat theyshouldwork for thesameKosovo Police worshippers cameto D.D. telling himthat hehasdughisown grave sought to be andactually Islam, unlikeasthe Takfir would argue. beingarrestedAfter by theKosovo Police, thesame so, arguing that this does not breach any not against or rules, Islamic principles and is certainly join theKosovo to Police dosocame, D.D., whenanopportunity hadencouraged themto do when thesameworshippers had previously askedhimwhetherornotshouldtheywork and he hasbeenmockedby someofhisworshippers beingarrested. after The reason beingthat D.D., oneofthearrested imams, alsoconsidered that has aSalafi, told theauthorofthis report fully withviolent institutions. extremismthrough For security instance, with inaninterview ther with the charges against them. There is another side of the coin when dealing unmind- people, including some of the Takfirs, get released because there is no evidence to press fur ‘convincing’ language, asargued above, to recruit vulnerable membersofsociety. will prevail andmore young peoplecould potentially fall prey to suchconspiracies andother fessions whousehate before speech).Unlessequality law isrespected, the Takfir conspiracy speech”, (including secularorthoseofothercon- butsoshouldtheothermembersofsociety be allowed by religious figures; to the contrary, theyshouldbelegally charged ofusing“hate not weighed thesamebefore thejustice system. This isnotto say that “hate speech” should evidence that they sensewithparticular “imam hate speech” and “secular hate speech” are charged ofusing “hate speech”, butare praised for using “freedom ofspeech”. otherwords, In usehateer secularmembersofsociety speechoroffend religious figures, they are notlegally with, orsociallyjudgedfor using “hate speech”. Ontheotherhand, whenastate officialoroth - offence towards figure anon-Muslim oranother community, they are eitherlegallycharged the law. However, more thannot, whenareligious often figure useshate speechandposes just likeany othercitizen, includinginmeasures guaranteed by law, before suchasequality Islam”. When religious figures breach thelaws ofthestate, theyshould bedealt with equally washed young Takfir worshippers whobecome more ready to becalledintoto action “protect 495 Kosovo.Visit to Kaçanik, 8December 2014. Unmindful state security actions canonlyreinforce actions Unmindfulstate security suchconspiracies ofalready brain- Implications ofthetwo extremes in(public)discourse - 95 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 96 Occasional paper by KCSS public discourse againstone’s values conservative andpractices. ular liberal individual might have. theuseofantagonistic could helpincurtailing This certainly in publicdiscourse, that isto one’s respect sec liberal values andotherbeliefs that aparticular and extremism. conservatism The same goes for religious who conservatives should be careful one’s religious further orientation andtheway curtail onewants to itwillcertainly practice ideas inpublicdiscourse, renouncing doublestandards in publicdiscourse, andrespecting religious however,in order conservatism; to curtail religious anunderstandingofconservative lam. ism. This isthelogic whenoneextremeproduces anotherextremeinreligion, inthiscaseIs- towardspushes the voicesconservative potentially further conservatism, leading to extrem- towardscommunity liberalism, as if by which again and furthermore, automation, further inreligionconservatism will, asifby automation, antagonize theliberal voices of thereligious call deviations”)“liberal andmore (what conservative theycall “extremist deviation”). Further wards any extremism as a deviation from religion, be that towards more liberal (what they The voices conservative withinthereligious are community thosethat consider themove to based onviolent extremistideasanddeeds. mate religious figures (includingthemore ones),andlegitimize conservative theirarguments, are corrupting Islam.As suchitmaterializes dodelegitimize theirefforts credible andlegiti- to denounce official religious communitiesthat withthestate, work onthe grounds that they worshippers, and those in the process of being brainwashed are convinced that they are right authority. This isbecauseitreinforces theirarguments infront oftheiralready brainwashed in thecaseofKosovo theBIKalmost “joyfully” wait for more liberalism withinsuchreligious religious figures, imams, andscholarsthat belong to astate recognized religious community, which according to theirideological tenets denounce andconsider asmunafiq occurs religious withintheMuslim inKosovo, community elsewhere. andperhaps The Takfir, outcomeThis ismore dialectical dangerous inproducing violent radical extremismwhenit al secularstate values that shouldtreat allthecitizens equally, regardless oftheirconfessions. Consequently, itheightens thereligious extreme. otherwords, In values ofaliber itisthevery it pushesreligious onto astronger conservatism defensive andmore antagonistic position. speech for onesidev.s. freedom ofexpression for theotheronsimilar, ifnotthesameissues, (9.2), whenstate laws are biasedtowards intheapplication ofhate theliberal secularpart other (seethediagram As below ithasbeenargued ontheleft). intheprevious Subchapter the liberal secular extreme on the one hand, and the religious extreme on conservative the unintentionally,although surfacing produces two extremes–itiswideningthegapbetween resulting in both sides pushing towards their own extremes. social outcome,This dialectical towardsety Suchapushisunfolding more conservatism. offensively by bothsides, whichis similarly, the “foreignness” ofthesoci- ofliberalism religious ispushingtheconservative part towards ofthe society is pushing morethe liberal secularpart conservatism liberalism, and sides reacting, at leastinapublicdiscourse, withantagonism, whereby the “foreignness” of the two sides. This has, resulted furthermore, in unintended consequences of having the two O verall, this is not to say that should become the secular liberal more society conservative (hypocrites) all - - - thing to do with such political parties that attempt tothing to work dowithsuchpolitical parties withinasecularstate. with theheadscarf, thisalmostimmediately legitimizes theirargument for denouncing any littlefor community’s theMuslim end updoingnothingorvery interests, suchastheissue not cooperate withany state otherthananIslamicState. Second, whensuchpoliticalparties consider themasmunafiq andkuffar, becauseof Takfir’s predominant beliefthat oneshould are integrated into secularstate institutionsto runpoliticalandreligious agenda.First, they with asecularstate, theyconsider that asmunafiq andkuffar (unbelievers) thepoliticalparties consider amunafiq (hypocrite) religious becauseofperceptions authority oftheircooperation Kosovo, cannotreach any results intheinterest whichthey ofMuslims. JustlikewiththeBIK, withreligious agendas,pers happenswhenpoliticalparties (PD) suchastheJustice Party in behind tality Takfirs, thelegitimization of Takfirs in front oftheir, andpotential Takfir worship According to A.A.,aformer foreign fighterknow inthelogic whoappears andmen- Syria, to Figure ofextremisms 12: The dialectics 496 tention away from internal organisational problems withintheinstitution aswell asindivid- from tagging, framing, the at and publicly of shifting lynching each other with the purpose and groups ingeneral community have within BIKandtheMuslim notspared themselves itself. community tions ofvariousindividualswithintheinstitutionand Muslim Individuals BIK’s thannot shifted often attention away from religious affairsonto personalgainsandposi- have.should infact Anumberofscandalsandpower politicswithinthe institutionhave more number ofinstruments, donotspeakfor arigorous control over religious affairs, whichtheBIK festations of religious deviations and propagation of the Takfir ideology in Kosovo through a officialswithintheBIKof fromhaving thehighranking religious affairs under control, mani- inpreventingimportant potential violent deviations andextremisms. 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- - - 97 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 98 Occasional paper by KCSS of 5 years for the position of Mufti. aged to which previously change the Constitution foresaw of the BIK, a limit of two mandates members of the BIKAssembly close to him,attempted on20August 2013, and later on, man- whichwere for together withthe the elections the Mufti heldintheendof2013,Mufti, confidents Muftito Tërnava. Xhabir Hamiti,was dismissedfrom hispositionastheChairof BIK Assembly by theclose shown withfinances. alackoftransparency hasbeeninvolvedthe Mufti inanumberofviolations, irregularities, nepotisms, andhas Similarly, Bilalli,theChairof Idriz Workers UnionoftheIslamicCommunity, that asserted a numberofmemberstheBIKinorder hisdecisions. to press themto support 507 506 505 504 503 502 501 500 499 498 497 Kaçanik, Ferizaj,Kaçanik, andSuhareka. ed peoplewere nominated for posts, whilethosewithmaster’s degrees were ignored, i.e. in heldinsomemunicipalcouncils oftheBIKwherebyelections educat anumberofpoorly personnel would notsubmitthemselves Naim to Mufti Tërnava’s orders. have damagedtheimageof theBIK. the Shtimje municipality, said that there were physical fights, threats, andintimidation, which there was anabuseofpower andotherscandals. For instance, G the BIK’s annualbudgetranges between 5.5to more than6millionEuros. individuals andtheirdesire for power isestimated positionswithintheBIKstructures. that It There are many reasons behindpower-politics played between variousdividedgroups and and theIslamiccommunity. (4) funds and luxury goods (i.e. gold) during collected (4) funds and luxury for (3)fundstakenfromand charity theholymonth leasingofreligious ofRamadan; property; funds includethosecoming from (1)worshippers from eachregional council; (2)fundraising ual intentions for power gainwithintheinstitution. and continued to remain inhisoffice. http://gazetajnk.com/?cid=1,979,1900 Edona (2012). Musa përHaxhnë “BIK Shpenzon 2.5Milionë Vit”. Onlineavailable at: JNK. 16,2012.Gazeta April http://old.zeri.info/artikulli/13488/rikthehet-drama-ne-bik-sot-kuvendi (2013). Anita Kadriu sotkuvendi!”. drama nëBIK: “Rikthehet August 29,2013.Zeri.info. Onlineavailable at: available at: http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/spbik-levizja-ultra-vehabite-dhe-selefite-ne-bik-2-35451.html Telegrafi.com (2013). Lëvizja ultra “SPBIK: vehabite dheselefite nëBIK”. August26,2013.Telegrafi.com. Online available at: http://gazetajnk.com/?cid=1%2C979%2C6162 Visar (2013). Duriqi “Hesht përZgjedhjetqëPërmbyllin e Dekadën Tij”. Online August JNK. 5,2013.Gazeta available at: http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/spbik-levizja-ultra-vehabite-dhe-selefite-ne-bik-2-35451.html Telegrafi.com (2013). Lëvizja ultra “SPBIK: vehabite dheselefite nëBIK”. August26,2013.Telegrafi.com. Online http://old.zeri.info/artikulli/13488/rikthehet-drama-ne-bik-sot-kuvendi (2013). Anita Kadriu sotkuvendi!”. drama nëBIK: “Rikthehet August 29,2013.Zeri.info. Onlineavailable at: Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. kulli/12275/xhihadi-per-bik (2013). Anita Kadriu ““ available at: http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/spbik-levizja-ultra-vehabite-dhe-selefite-ne-bik-2-35451.html Telegrafi.com (2013). Lëvizja ultra “SPBIK: vehabite dheselefite nëBIK”. August26,2013.Telegrafi.com. Online Xhihadi” përBIK”. August 16,2013.Zeri.info. Onlineavailable at: http://old.zeri.info/arti- 505 Nonetheless, XhabirHamitirefused to recognize thisdecision 499 According to him,thisallhappenedbecausetheeducated 503 498 , 506 504 Imam Haxhiualsoclaimedthat there Imam were fraudulent Suchevents have alsoledto divisionswithintheBIK The opponent of such changes to the Constitution, 501 The hasalso beenaccused ofblackmailing Mufti 497 A number of reports have Anumberofreports shown that Hajj; and (5) donations that go to the azmend Haxhiu, animamin 500

507 Sources ofthese 502 Also, before - he builtwiththefundsraised onhisown. asanimaminthemosque inGjilan,M.B,.BIK structures Qazimito Zekija serve whoauthorised later controlled, itwas theBIKstructures, ormoreImamwithliberal views specificallyan inthe build his “own” mosque. ja Qazimi,thenotorious Takfir from Gjilan,whohasapparently received fundsfromGulf to the Subchapter 7.4,whichdiscusses finances- ofviolent Such extremism. was thecasewith Zekiri although initiallyintended for charity, may fallto Takfir hands, asithasbeenindicated in and pocketsto buildmosques. This that risk suchfunds, isproblematic becauseofthevery parency, has alsoledto someimamsreceiving fundsfrom theGulfonpersonalaccounts Such decentralised fundingandalackofaccountability oralackofsensefinancialtrans - its activities. budget without being exposed to more transparency, not only with its funding but also with to control afew mosqueswhere theycancontrol theirworshippers. appearsthat theliber It ocrites”, more inan whileworking “excommunication andexodus” modewhileattempting may notbeentirely thecase, andconsider itfullof astheextremistsdenounce the BIK, “hyp However, to take hold of the BIK. liberalsbe between theMuslim and extremists, trying this to schismsintheBIKappearing the attention inpublicdiscourse hasshifted, withtheprimary Therefore, schismsappearto becontrol oftheBIKthrough whiletheprimary power-politics, 516 515 514 513 512 511 510 509 508 official charity organisation of theBIKcalledofficial charity “Bereqeti”. who thenbuilttheir “own” mosques. income for ofitsown Imams charity, hasunintentionally ledto fundsfallinginto Takfir hands financing and flow offunds, andthe unwillingness to press formore control over financial from Kosovo. alsoasoneoftherefereeszimi hasserved many and guarantors foreign supporting fighters have heldandcontinue to holdhigherranks amongtheAlbanian fighters Qa- inISIS. Zekirija Ridvan Haqifi from and Gjilan, both ofwhom influence onLavdrimKaçanik, fromMuhaxheri of onlyafew peopleintheBIK. war fundingandincomes have gonethrough personalpocketsandbankaccounts legal status, until recently the BIK did not and could not own a bank account, so all of the post- operations have until recently, andeven more sobefore, have Having no beeninthedark. Interview with B.S., a high official in BIK. 25 withB.S.,November ahighofficial in BIK. 2014. Interview Prishtina, Kosovo. Another caseistheinfamous Takfiri“Termokos” mosquein Prishtina withA.A.a former foreign Interview fighter from Kosovo, 17November 2014. Prishtina, Kosovo. vo. withC.D. Interview aformer extremist belonging to Takfir circles inKosovo, 18O Ibid. 25 withB.S.,November ahighofficialinBIK. 2014. Interview Prishtina, Kosovo. 28 O onextremism inKosovo, oneoftheKosovo dealing withandreporting withK.M., basedjournalists Interview http://gazetajnk.com/?cid=1,979,1900 Edona (2012). Musa përHaxhnë “BIK Shpenzon 2.5Milionë Vit”. Onlineavailable at: JNK. 16,2012.Gazeta April Kosovo. onextremisminKosovo,the Kosovo dealingwithandreporting basedjournalists 28O 25 withB.S.,November ahighofficialinBIK. 2014. Interview Prishtina, K.M.,oneof Kosovo, with Interview and ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober Kosovo. 513 , 514 The problem withtheBIKinthiscaseisthat thelackofmore centralized 512 As indicated Qazimihadanimmense inprevious Zekirija sections, 511 Therefore, there was alotofroom to manoeuvre withits 515 Although Zekirija QazimibuiltthemosqueinGjilanhe Although Zekirija 516

508 , 509 , 510 . In addition, BIK’s. In and activities ctober 2014.Prishtina,ctober Koso ctober 2014. Prishtina,ctober - - - 99 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 100 Occasional paper by KCSS then. gether withmore Islamicteachings conservative that were brought inmore intensively since circumstancesbased onthenewsocio-political that rapidly appeared theliberation, after to Eastern countries.the Middle therefore,The BIK, didnotsucceed inaccommodating religion andaccommodatingabsorbing theteachings brought inby thenewlyeducated imamsin has failedto produce religious andscholarship, knowledge whichcould have helpedinbetter which theIslamicteachings shouldbedelivered initsmosquesandotherstructures, theBIK Lastly, despite definingHanafismasthelegalschoolofIslamicjurisprudence based on alienated towards community. theMuslim Kosovo ofthesociety, intheeyes ofthesecularpart whichhasledthelatter to grow more As aresult, in thishasworsened oftheIslamiccommunity theimageofBIKandunity includingthepoliticalcapture andcontrolissues withintheBIK, andfinances. ofitsactivities causeofschismswithintheBIKisapretence for discourse astheprimary other al-extremist - A comprehensive approach to rehabilitation andreintegration been led. Given theKosovo context, theKCSS recommends thefollowing: beyond asimple /extremist’‘liberal divideasthedebates, especiallyinKosovo, have usually white’ perspective, whichmeansthat theissueofradicalisation andviolent extremismgoes radicalisation and violent extremism. One, therefore, needsto go beyond a simple and ‘black and Iraq, andat thesametime, ithasattempted theusualmyths to deconstruct inregards to hasattemptedThis report to shedsomelight ontheissueofKosovo’s foreign fighters in Syria 520 519 518 517 10. • • • • o “should doasmuchpossibleto avoid sendingreturnees to court”. criminal at therecent White HouseSummitonCountering Violent (CVE), that Extremism theEU bly can.As GillesKerchove, theEuropean UnionCounterterrorism Coordinator asserted Arrests, shouldbeavoided prisons, orsendingpeopleto court asmuchonepossi- should beundertaken; As such,a ‘one size fitsall’ approach andamulti-facetedwould not modelapproachwork, potentially would want to return backto Kosovo: The following are thecategories that would foreign describe fighters that either or return Ibid. tion.cnn.com/videos/world/2014/10/24/shubert-denmark-jihadi-rehab.cnn CNN(2014). “Denmark’s for Jihadis”. de-radicalization O Ibid. rehabilitation-and-reintegration-of-returning-foreign-terrorist-fighters 2015. The Washington Institute . Onlineavailable at: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/ KelseySegawa (2015). “Rehabilitation andReintegration Foreign ofReturning Terrorist Fighters”. February 23, something else. have returned to school, have ajob, and their attention away hasshifted from Syria onto to convince fighters to homewhenthey return fear beingsent to jail”. also noted that are“[p]risons major incubators of radicalization, and it is more difficult whether theybelongto group ofreturnees (a),(b) pose oftheirreturn andtheirfundamental beliefs for returning -meaning identifying Those that return shouldgothrough ascreening process, whichwould assessthepur to become part of the society.to become part said that thestate shouldtaketheapproach whereby potential returnees would want proach thePolice hastaken,andJorgen that Denmark Ilum, Commissioner inAarhus, c) b) a) Rec damental knowledge onideologicaldamental religious knowledge divisions, i.e. unableto understand This isimpossibleto bedoneby any state officialinKosovo alone, wholackfun-

cruitment anddissemination ofthe Takfir ideology. violent extremist ideology, but want to return to Kosovo re to facilitate further Those that do not regret in orjoining thethe upholdingconflict of their Syria, to violence; ideology withoutresorting Those that regret in but joiningtheconflict Syria, want to keeptheir extremist andideology; extremist acts Those that regret in joining andthe conflict Syria, want to give up their violent ommend 520 a tions 519 e further asserts that, 10 outof 16 returnees by now asserts He further ctober 24,2014.CNN.Onlineavailablectober at: http://edi- , as described above., or(c)asdescribed 518 Suchistheap 517 Kerchove - - - 101 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 102 Occasional paper by KCSS 521 • • • • o o o they figure outwho you are, we say ‘Do you needany help?” embracing themwhentheycome home. UnlikeinEngland, where maybe you’re interned for aweek while discrimination, whencommenting onhow dealswiththesecases heclaimsthat Danmark “[w]e are actually Steffen task forceradicalisation prevention ofamulti-agency and Neilsen,acrime tackling advisorandpart identified asbelonging to group (c) through agents whocanfacilitate religious de-radicalisation important teachings. Those dealt with separately and mostly by credible and legitimate imams, as one of the most their former radical again. friends Those identified asbelonging to group (b) nominations suchas “terrorist” or “extremist”, since theywould beisolated andreturn to withde ofthesociety tural etc), activities, andshouldnotbeframed by theotherpart education, cul- andre-integration(a) shouldgothrough process re-socialisation (jobs, ontheresultsDepending ofsuchanassessment, thoseidentified asbelonging to group that initsessence of embodiestheprinciple “help andwatch ”; This meansthat overall, there needsto bearehabilitation andreintegration programme institutions accordingly; tors, whichaccording to theofficials attheDanish rehabilitation programme,critical is to gramme and police shouldbeseparated investiga from services thework- ofthesecurity Just liketheDanishderadicalization programme, thework oftherehabilitation pro and re-integrated returnees; thede-radicalized most importantly sentatives from BIKthrough relevant imams;donors;and state institutions;civilsociety; Such acentralised programme andprocess shouldincludestakeholderssuchas:repre tralized, bothintheideaonhow itshouldrun,andintheprocess ofimplementation. The deradicalisation andrehabilitation programme would bemore efficient ifit was cen- outright frame themastaghut , groups would any nottakeseriously orliberal state imam,astheywould authority credible andlegitimate for thesereturnees to inthesetwo interact with.Returnees to themiddle level ofpyramid, i.e. “non-violent conservatives”, whowould bemore When encountering thosebelonging to group (b) approximately thegroup to whichpotential returnees belong; tremist ideologies. These imams would alsohelp state in assessing more authorities religious whohave authorities inreligion deepandfundamental knowledge andex outbySuch anassessment legitimate shouldbecarried andcredible imamsand/or gious ideology, whichhave fundamental differences; whether someonebelongsto aviolent extremistideologyorto reli aconservative - imams according to eachgroup ofreturned fighters; to changetheirstance, andthiscanbedoneonlythrough credible andlegitimate only through theQuran andcredible Islamicteachings that theycanbeconvinced the Quran andotherIslamicteachings were read to themby the Takfir. As such,itis circles and as such have ‘sincerely’ joinedjihad based on their disillusionment on how Iraqfight have in and Syria done sobecausetheyhave been brainwashed by Takfir research out for most of those that havecarried of this report, the purposes gone to thereturnees’ orsoften potentially de-radicalize ‘rejectionist’ stance. According to the wouldImams alsohelp, especiallyinitially, and inengaging themwiththesociety through thederadicalisation process; outtheassessment, orevention, whichwould runthem makeitimpossibleto carry should bedealtwithby both,imamsandruleoflaw munafiq, andkuffar andwould any reject interac and(c),itistheimamsthat belong 521 shouldbe - - - - - 523 522 Donors: Figure 13: Treatment ofKosovo foreign fighters upon return (agegroups) Trust toacertainextent • • • KCSS (2014).Kosovo Barometer. Security O ers-201496125229948625.html available at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/09/denmark-introduces-rehab-syrian-fight SimonHooper(2014). introduces“Denmark rehab for Syrian fighters”.September 7,2014.Aljazeera. Online withtheradicalized contact and indirect andthosethat may beprey to radicalisation; have onthefrontline, thelocalfaces andlocalefforts especially levelat the community be avoided asmuchpossible, ifnotentirely, shouldrunand andtheprojects offoreignbility funding, foreign representatives, foreign logos, foreign messages, should tempts, willmore thannotresult often infailure ofsuchprojects. ofthepurpose The visi- shouldremainor projects on thebackseat. Taking thefrontline asforeigners insuchat Foreign donors, whenwillingto provide programme fundingfor thede-radicalization individuals themselves; oftheissueandstatevain, ofradicalized becauseofthenature andparticularities habilitation programme. Any independent attempt hasmore chances thannotto goin The foreign donorsshouldprovide fundingto thecentralized andre de-radicalization munity; to buildrelationshipsits credibility andability withthe returnees com andtheMuslim - they should be banned entry into thecountry.they shouldbebannedentry percent believe theyneedto bearrested immediately, whilelessthan20percent believe should betreated justlikeany othercitizen becausetheydon’t poseathreat. Closeto 30 them to be ableto beintegrated inthesociety, andthere are thosethat believe that they percent believe that thereturnees should undergo arehabilitation process inorder for According to KSBO extreme Secular/ No turstatall liberal A lotoftrust 18 25 30 40 50 60 Discourse betweensecularandreligiouspartof No opinion 70 Little turst ------6 5 4 3 2 1 24 29 39 49 59 69 7 + 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 ------rejectionists 522 + 6 5 4 3 2 2 18 Trust S 4% 42% 23% 17% 9 9 9 9 9 4 5% 5% 3% Violent lib 6% e 9% 8% 1% 8% 8% - c

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- - 103 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 104 Occasional paper by KCSS Imams T he BIK: • • • • • • • • • • • ple’s questions; cles whomay easilyprovide simplebutillegitimate theological answers to young peo and notignore them. They shouldprotect theirworshippers from fallingunder Takfir cir layer ofthepyramid – “non-violent conservative”) shouldstay closeto their worshippers pyramid - aswell participationists”) “liberal asthosethat are more (middle conservative Credible andlegitimate imams, includingthosethat are more liberal (bottom layer ofthe preventedlecture himfrom going; thanked himfor to hislecture, leave becausehewas thinking to Syria, andthat video One madrassa student whohaswatched Mustafa Terniqi’s onthewar lecture inSyria has have spokenagainst radicalism, extremism,andagainst joining therebel groups inSyria. More videos should be posted and promoted from credible and legitimate imams who the pyramid as “violent rejectionists” / Takfirs; whichcaneasily beidentifiedextremist thinking, –i.e. thosebelonging to the top layer of Work inpreventing thecreation status ofimamsthat ofthecelebrity have radical and institutions; any radicalization that isbread initsown mosquesinKosovo together withotherstate These willmaketheBIKmore responsible, andasaresult shouldbekeptresponsible for tential extremist deviations astheyhappen; asearly and otherreligious affairs. allshouldbekept The BIKafter responsible for identifying po Increase andenforce more inthemosquesregarding rigorous inspection theteachings thecommunity,particularly andtraditions themselves. national and cultural and one which blends in with the intention identity of the state, shouldmore includereligiouscurricula often interpretations inIslamthat embrace one’s mate reasons ofrelevant shouldhappenwiththepermission BIKstructures. The religious mosques, for ofteachingsmuch aspossible;changesto inparticular legiti curriculum - Adopt ofteachings ayearly inallMosques, curriculum whichshouldbestandardized as prochement; pretation of and teachings in Islam. The BIK should be the hub for facilitating such rap in the fight against despiteextremism, their differences in (liberal/conservative) inter three domainpyramid presented previously shouldfinda common language, andunite Liberal imamsorthosebelonging andconservative to thetwo bottom domainsofthe ours to therelevant state immediately; authorities suchendeav buildingofmosques, unauthorised anditshouldreport shouldinspect It from financing; community es, notonlyfrom sources coming from theGulf, butalsothebuildingofmosquescoming shouldnotallow thebuildingofmosquesfromIt fundsthat gothrough individualfinanc whichuponitsown assessment shouldissueordenyBIK, permission; to should the be reported (such as building a mosque), such an activity religious activity vant state authorities. When overseas ordomesticdonorsoffer finances toaparticular shouldhaveIt centralised financing, whichcanbeeasily overseen to and rele reported shouldasurgently aspossibleberegisteredIt asalegalentity; ------T he state structures: security • • • • • • • • to work for the Ministry ofInterior.to work for theMinistry There may have been, of course, grounded reasons and now ispursuinghisPhD studiesinPolitical Science, was rejected whenheapplied from the Faculty ofIslamicStudies (FIS),amaster’s degree inPolitical Sciencefrom theUP, structures.state Ayoung security imamin Vushtria abachelor’s whohasearned degree Not discriminate againstthosewithreligious background whoapplyto work withinthe and work withtheminderadicalizing them; servative” layer ofthepyramid canalsoidentify potential “violent rejectionists”/ Takfirs, manyple to joininwithradical In actions. cases, thosebelonging to the “non-violent con- using unacceptable languagetowards others, unintentionally invite andindirectly peo teachings, meaningwhentheirteachings,sequences oftheirparticular inmany casesby a discussion,andtheyshouldbetold by agenciesofthepotential thestate con security - should again restrain themselves from arresting them. Such imams should be invited for having someoftheirworshippers embrace a “violent rejectionist” / Takfir ideology, they those onthesecond layer ofthepyramid, unintentionally asan serve “enabling factor” for When agencies assess thatstate potential security “non-violent conservative” imams – radical modelto spiritual befollowed by more Takfir worshippers; contribute to preventing thecreation ofany religious ‘martyrs’ that would asa later serve agenciesfromstrain usingforce security (i.e. arrests, prosecutions, etc). This would also through intelligence basedpolicing, that would andtakeaction asmuchpossiblere Should have amore targeted approach towards violent extremists, i.e. to work more language shouldbeavoided at any cost. under nocircumstances speak ill of them. Tagging and framing of others with negative Shi’ias undertheological interpretations, are theyshoulddothisstrictly notMuslim, and pretation ofIslamshouldbestopped. for wants If to instance, Imam argue that acertain illofothers’others. Speaking cultures, traditions, religious backgrounds, orways ofinter publically, orintheironlineinteraction withworshippers theirsermons eitherduring and should be moreImams careful and be accountable of thewords andphrases theyexpress forgiveness quickly; not magnify thosesins, becausesuchyoung peoplemay fallprey to Takfir inorder to find youngIf peoplehave committed asin,basedonreligious interpretations, imams should where; within theIslamiccommunity, andnotforget that theextremistsideologically lay else lynching basedon “extremists” denominations, for theirpower gainsandpower politics have fallen prey under Takfir. They should tune down their framing, tagging, and public as possible, anduniteto deradicalize inefforts thealready radicalized young peoplewho “non-violent conservative” layer ofthepyramid, shouldengageinantagonisms aslittle that fallunderthe Imams participationists”“liberal layer andthosethat fallunderthe tience by imamsiskey–theyshouldnoteasilygive uporisolate them; deradicalisation withreligious andtheological arguments. This may taketime, hence pa- engage inopendebate withthem,whichmight lead, andinmany caseshasledto their ready fallenunder Takfir, whoframe andpublicallylynchimamsthemselves. They should Such imamsshouldalsobepatient withpotential worshippers andotherswhohave al- Such imamsshouldalsobepatient withworshippers that are newinIslam; - - - - 105 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq 106 Occasional paper by KCSS Religious charity organisationsReligious charity and work Conventional mediapresence mediaandsocial F amilies andfriends • • • • • • • • • • • • tion processes through lectures, aswell asthrough funding. organisations alsoforReligious shouldbedirected charity thederadicaliza into- serving under adifferent name; names, asisthecasewithAKEA,whichhasbeenrecently closed, butisstilloperating sations. Closingthemdown completely astheywilloperate willnotwork, underdifferent with theminorder to identify andinfiltrated potential extremistsworking insuchorgani- organisations,State shouldnotabruptly closecharity structures butshouldcooperate They shouldbemore open andtransparent uponrequest; removing prejudices andstimulates andinclusive andcooperative approach. credible religious figures shouldgetmore space onnon-religious media. This helpsin figures shouldget moreSecular of society space in religious media,and legitimate and help intheirdeligitimization; and to recruit others. Less attention by themediaonextremistsfighting in Syria would in Syria. Their publicappearance andattention encourages themto takeradical actions should asmuchpossiblerefrain from indirectly “promoting” violent extremistsfighting Conventional media,including TV, andmagazines, newspapers, andonlineportals National stations witheducational, shouldbeenriched cultural, andothercontent;TV additional viewonvarious existential andtheological questions; Such content shouldbeposted andpromoted onlineinorder to present analternative or volved videos; inproducing suchshort ciety, includingcredible andlegitimate imams, andothernon-state shouldbein- actors University professors, schoolteachers, membersofcivilso highschoolandelementary answers to keyexistential andphilosophicalquestionsaboutlife andexistence; The content shouldbecreated videosofafew by minutes producing duration short with beinAlbanian language; primarily life issues. Suchaplatform, whereby http://www.zgjoi.com/ canbeanexample, should schoolmay have secondary schoolandearly young onmajor peopleoflate elementary Create aplatform where answers to keyexistential andphilosophicalquestionsthat in religious andextremists circles; Families theywillfindpeace shouldnotmakeabigdealoutofit, otherwise, andfriends shouldnotcreate Islam,andcertainly practice analienated atmosphere at home; Families shouldnotisolate their(young) membersofthefamilywhohave decidedto structures. security understanding inreligion andreligious affairsthanthesecularemployees ofsuchstate those that embrace theconstitutional order ofKosovo, butat thesametimehave more to employ for shouldjumpat structures theopportunity butstate hisrejection, security - MEST EU: O ther recommendations • • • • • • • during their online and virtual presence. theironlineandvirtual during level. This willhelpyoung peopleindivinginto alternative andotheronlinecontents young peoplewhocanspeakEnglishandotherlanguagesat leastat above anaverage municipalities shouldtaketheresponsibility for exponentially increasing thenumberof ofEducation inthe nominally ashasbeenthecase, buttheMESTandDepartments Learning offoreign languages, especiallyEnglish,shouldnotbepresent only incurricula young peoplewhotakethereligion asadogma; proach whenfacingviolent extremistgroups who, until now have easilymanipulated the religion, to thinkmore aparticular practice critically, andhave amore investigative ap the methodsofteachings. This willenabletheyoung people, even those whodecideto and education, methodologies especiallyby incurricula incorporating thinking critical Heavily invest intheeducation sector, andsecondary focus onelementary withaprimary this may expose theyoung peopleto newandprogressive ideasofthe West. Have aproactive approach to liberalizing thefree movement oftheKosovo citizens, as are reallykilled dead. the mediaandthrough isnotalways closefriends. as It clearwhetherthosesuspected oftheirdeceased memberofthefamilyinSyriaia, becausefamiliesknow usuallythrough There shouldbestate mechanismsthat canidentify andverify in Syr thosethat are killed findings regarding thenumberofmosques regarding thecaseof Turkey. as suchonecancontrol extremismmore efficiently –thisgoeshandinwithour planninginorder mosquesinurban toInclude prevent thecreation ofillegalmosques; preaching; sequences ofextremist ideasmay leakasaresult teachings oftheirconservative and Organize roundtables with liberal and imams conservative where unintended con - ing psychological borders andprejudices that exist between allparties; debate onissuesthat have to dowithreligion andviolent extremism. This helpsinbreak Organise workshops where religious, state, memberssittogether and andcivilsociety : - - - 107 Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq

Katalogimi në botim – (CIP) Biblioteka Kombëtare e Kosovës “Pjetër Bogdani”

327(496.51)

Kursani , Shpend Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq / Shpend Kursani. – Prishtinë : KCSS, 2015. – 89 f.

ISBN 978-9951-679-20-6 www.qkss.org