Civil society organisations and leaders in Kosovo have condemned the attack on a Roma woman in Lipjan after online media showed pictures of her saying there were concerns she was dangerous, an allegation which the Kosovo Police dismissed after interviewing her.
Kosovo Police said yesterday the woman in question, whose picture was widely distributed by online and social media, was repatriated from Belgium and was not a suspect for any criminal act.
Later in the day, the woman was beaten by a group of yet unidentified persons and the footage of the attack was also published via web.
A protest in Pristina was organised today by civil society organisations in light of the attack.
Kosovo MP from the Roma community, Albert Kinolli, said the woman is now under institutional protection and taken to a safe place. “The courts and prosecution are working in identifying authors of the attack and bring them to justice,” Kinolli wrote on Facebook.
President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said today in connection to the attack: “There is no room for violence in Kosovo, there is no room for attacks against anyone, there is no room for prejudice.”
Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti also condemned the attack calling it “shameful”. “Shame for the fact we share such reports. Shame for the lack of basic decency. Shame for the lack of critical thought. Shame for lack of courage to prevent such things. Shame for prejudices and stereotypes we have. Shame for lack of protection for marginalised groups of society,” Ahmeti wrote on social media.
