Despite the damage caused by the intrusion of around 20 thugs who destroyed our stage and beat our staff member, we went on with our scheduled magazine launch reading series. For security reasons, and to prevent further attacks, our party was cancelled.

Several statements have been made publicly condemning the vandalism, threats and violence that prevented us from completing the launch event for our Sex edition at Prishtina’s Youth Center (Boro Ramizi) on Friday evening.

The first official statement came from the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Elaine Conkievich, who condemned the violence through the OSCE’s website:

“This is an attack on freedom of expression, a basic human right, as well as an attempt to limit freedom of the media. I call on the law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift investigation, identify perpetrators and prevent violations of human rights and attacks on media freedom,” Conkievich declared on Saturday.

Samuel Žbogar, Head of European Union Office and EU Special Representative, also condemned the aggression and violation of human rights perpetrated for this group:

“I trust Kosovo police to find and process the attackers and I wish Kosovo 2.0 not to surrender because of this brutality. The European Union will always raise its voice when such cases occur, because rule of law does not mean only individual safety and security, but also the right to openly debate in public.”

Ulrike Lunacek, Member of European Parliament, European Parliament Rapporteur on Kosova and Co-president of the European Parliament’s LGBT Intergroup, made another statement on the attack:

“I strongly condemn this attack…Dear Kosovars of whatever ethnicity or belief, you have gotten to know me as somebody who supports your people and your country but who is also critical when necessary. A lesbian woman myself who has struggled – among other things – against homophobia, hatred, fear and for visibility of and respect for lesbians and gays, I am appalled that in the youngest and very secular European country a group of religious (in this case Islamist) fundamentalists and/or hooligans have ventured to attack and thus threaten Kosovars who give public space to a topic which is still too much a topic for prejudices, fears and hatred.

…respect and non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation are European values, enshrined in the Treaty and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This is about human rights, not about morale. The European Union was founded on the principle of cooperation and respect instead of confrontation. This also should be true for the way our societies deal with diversity.

I do hope the perpetrators of Friday’s attack will be brought to justice soon.”

The UN Mission in Kosovo published on December 17 a new press release, after confirming all the facts, with which they called on rule of law authorities and demand respect for freedom of expression:

“This is an attack on freedom of expression. Respect for the law and media freedom is fundamental in achieving durable peace and effective protection of human rights in Kosovo,” said UNMIK SRSG Farid Zarif, stressing the need for “public education against any discriminatory practices in this regard”, referring to LGBT and sexuality issues.

Two government representatives have also condemned the events of Friday evening. Vlora Çitaku, the Minister of European Integration published her statement on the Ministry of European Integration website on December 15.

On Tuesday December 17, national newspaper Gazeta Express published an editorial piece by Petrit Selimi (translated into English here), the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Affairs and member of the State Comission for Religious Freedoms. Selimi called on the police and justice system of Kosovo, the Islamic Council of Kosovo, the football fan club “Plisat,” Kosovo’s political parties and civil society to take action against Friday’s violation of freedom of speech.

“There are lots people, much more than those bearded men and frustrated hooligans, who believe in love, who believe in law and order and who above all want us to be in Europe, to have freedom like they have in Europe, to have a good economy like they have in EUrope. There are numerous islands which need to be connected like an archipelago of citizen’s resistance and coalitions beyond political parties and personal dislikes.”

The Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo (AGPK) condemned the attack of “hooligan groups” at Friday’s launch event, and asked Kosovo’s Islamic Council to distance themselves from the attack:

“AGPK strongly condemns these acts and asks the justice system to urgently address the life-threatening threats made against our colleagues at Kosovo 2.0 and other participants…these acts strongly denigrate press freedom and freedom of expression, and are a direct attack against democracy in this country.”

Imer Mushkolaj of Gazeta Express published an editorial which condemned the demonstration of hate speech and homophobia that prevented Friday’s magazine launch from taking place:

“To debate about sex and sexuality is not a sin, or shameful, or a crime. Just like’s it’s not shameful or sinful if you write, or watch movies or plays about it. It’s not sinful or shameful to educate people to respect the freedom and rights of others, as long as free choice for everyone’s lives. It’s a sin and a crime to call for the lynching and killing of others, it’s a sin to not let others live as they want, it’s a sin to misunderstand the people around you, pushed by low motives.”

The US-based portal The New Civil Rights Movement, whose Deputy Editor Tanya Domi has also been a guest editor in our Sex edition collected several reactions, including the symbolic protest that the Youth Initiative for Human Rights organized last Saturday in solidarity with Kosovo 2.0. Maja Micic, director of the YIHR office and key organizer of the summit said to Domi:

“We invited everyone to join us and felt it was really important to interrupt the agenda.  This is the least we could do and the importance of responding immediately was more important than our summit agenda.”

31 civil society organizations reacted in support of Kosovo 2.0, condemning the attacks at our launch event but also the preceding attacks on the offices of Libertas, one of Kosovo’s few LGBT organizations:

“We’ve sacrificed a lot and we are constantly working to make Kosovo a democratic country with an open society, where a person can feel free. No one’s freedom can limit the freedom of another.”

Yesterday evening, Tracey Ann Jacobson also condemned the violence that occured during our magazine launch, as well as the attack on Libertas’ office, stating:

“The U.S. Embassy deplores the violence perpetrated by a mob of extremists at the launch of the Kosovo 2.0 magazine on December 14.  Violence and threats have no place in a modern democratic state, and the United States will always safeguard and protect citizens’ freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”