Express carries an interview that Naim Ternava, head of the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) gave to Deutsche Welle.

What is your position toward the arrest of people suspected of extremism, jihad and terrorism in Kosovo?

The Islamic Community of Kosovo supports every action by our institutions that concerns security in the country, the future and progress of all processes in our country. BIK has supported these actions without preempting if those arrested are guilty or not, because this is the job of state institutions.

How do you describe the growth of extremist Islam in Kosovo, after the recent arrest of over 40 people, which is certainly not a small number for Kosovo?

This is not a small number, but as Mufti of the Republic I can say with full confidence: I feel good because there has been no incident between members of the three biggest religious communities here. We have great inter-religious tolerance here that we inherited for centuries and BIK will continue fostering this. We will do our best to maintain this inter-religious tolerance and harmony. This tolerance is characteristic not only for Kosovo but for all Albanian-inhabited regions. Let me say once again: those people were arrested over something. They are suspected but have yet to be tried. They are suspected of activities that we are calling terrorism, but we need to wait for the court’s decision.

Nonetheless how do you describe the growth of extremism Islam in Kosovo?

Please, I am not saying that there is extremism in Kosovo. Whether or not there is extremism or terrorism, this needs to be discussed further. There are certainly suspects about such activities, but the state knows this best, because I am not in a position to comment on this. As leader of the biggest religious community in the Balkans, I certainly see what happens among our followers. But let me say this again: BIK will use all its power to prevent any kind of extremism that wants to infiltrate our community. It is an undeniable truth that after the war anyone could have entered Kosovo freely. Borders were opened. Over the last ten years, I have warned on several occasions that we need to be very careful with who enters and leaves Kosovo. A part of our youth could have been indoctrinated because those that came to Kosovo might not have had good intentions for the future of Kosovo or they might have had plans to incite evil among our youth.

You said several times that BIK fosters religious tolerance. How real is the threat against good relations between the Islamic religion and other religious communities in Kosovo?

No force can harm the good relations between religious communities in Kosovo. This is written clearly in the Kuran which orders us to respect other faiths. It orders us to cooperate with followers of other religious and to respect and live in tolerance and peace. There is no force that harms these excellent relations in Kosovo, especially with the Catholic community in Kosovo.

Mr. Ternava, radical religious elements refer to the holy book of Kuran and use it as grounds for their war against others. How do you explain the fact that killings are carried out in the name of Allah and the Kuran?

Islam has nothing in common with killings, torture, rape and other evil acts. The Kuran certainly does not order this. Kuran is pure and calls for purity. According to the Kuran, if you kill an innocent man it is the same as killing all mankind.

What is BIK doing to uproot radical elements in Kosovar society?

Through its imams all over Kosovo, through training, gatherings and discussions, BIK has constantly warned about the threat of foreign elements and their influence on young people and followers. We are trying to use talks and different activities to convince others not to try and do something that is against religious principles. BIK is ready to assume its responsibilities. State institutions must also do their job and assume full responsibility for security in the country. It is also true that BIK has had a slow pace in the last 15 years because its legal position is not clear yet. BIK has yet to be registered and we have no executive powers. For 15 years now, the government and the assembly have not adopted the law that clarifies the position of religious communities. BIK is paying a costly price for this. BIK cannot even register a vehicle in its name. The state needs to fulfill its obligations, meanwhile we will assume our responsibilities, so that we can have full security in Kosovo and no room for extremist elements that first of all arm Islam, our country, our people and humankind.

You said several times that there have been elements from abroad: do you have information where they are coming from and who is funding them?

These are matters that need to be addressed by state institutions. They should know this, not I. But it is obvious that they are present here, because they can be seen clearly in some associations operating in Kosovo. Therefore, the state needs to explain such matters, it is their responsibility.

Do you as BIK have all mosques, practitioners and imams under control?

Unfortunately, some people who are still nostalgic about the former Yugoslav system, but also some new communists, media, websites, newspapers and TV stations, are using this situation to attack and stain BIK. Therefore, I want to say: BIK is well organized. All mosques in Kosovo are under our umbrella. Yesterday you could read in the press that four mosques are not under the control of BIK …

… it is true that I read this news and this is the essence of my question …

This is not about a mosque but a place for prayer – one is located in Pristina and the other two in two different municipalities. Some people have organized themselves, they have some premises where they conduct their prayers. We have expressed our concern about this. We have informed the authorities. We asked police, mayors and other authorities to take measures. We as BIK cannot operate in these facilities, because they are outside of mosques. The state needs to react there, and not BIK, because these are places of prayer. All mosques are under our umbrella. But we are concerned over these places of prayer. We have filed a written request with state authorities to shut down such premises. Following the recent arrests, one such premise was shut down in Pristina, but there are other locations where there has been no reaction yet.

The President and the government have promised that there will be no room for extremism in Kosovo, but recently I read that among those arrested there are also imams that work as part of BIK. How much truth is there in such claims?

No imam has been arrested. These are all speculation and lies. A self-declared imam from Gjilan has been arrested recently but he too was released. Let me say with full responsibility: no imam has been arrested. These are all speculation by people that want to use this situation to attack BIK. But the people know about the exceptional contribution of BIK and that BIK even shed blood during the liberation of our country. BIK will do everything in its power for the good of the country. God brought us here and there is nothing greater than Kosovo. Kosovo is sacred and we will not tolerate anyone that harms our country, the security and future of our people, regardless of who they are: extremists, terrorist or even the devil himself!