Policy Report December 2018 Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism:

Transcription

1 Policy Report December 2018 Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism: Lessons from the Positive Cases of Podujevo and Suhareka Municipalities 1

2 This policy report is part of the program With Participatory Democracy for a Kosovo without Radicalism, of the Consortium of NGO-s (ATRC, KIPRED, BIRN, SPRC, KCBS and D+). Prepared by: Agon Demjaha Edited by: Lulzim Peci Research Assistant: Blend Zyrapi Quantitative Data Gathering Assistance: Diendon Nixha and Valdrin Ukshini Copyright 2018, KIPRED. All the rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in any retrievable system, or conveyed in any form, or with any devices, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, registering or other, without the previous written permission by the publisher. Please contact: info@kipred.org apo: Published by: The Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) Rr. Major Mehmet Bushi, H.III. No Prishtina, Kosovo Telephone and fax:

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4 Table of Contents: Executive Summary... 5 Introduction Comparison of Socio-Economic Characteristics Analysis: Why there is no Violent Extremism in the Municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka? Conclusions and Recommendations

5 Executive Summary After terrorist attacks in several cities across Europe, prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism has become a priority in the political agendas of most governments in the world. In 2011, Kosovo was ranked as one of the countries with the highest number of foreign fighters per capita in wars in Syria and Iraq. Meanwhile, extensive research also speaks of a relatively high level of radicalism and violent extremism in certain regions of the country. While in some municipalities, such as those of Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit, a relatively high number of foreign fighters has been identified, the number in the municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka was rather small or nonexistent. Such a reality is more or less the same with regards to the level of radicalisation and violent extremism. Consequently, the main aim of this paper was to identify factors that have contributed to the prevention of radicalism and violent extremism in these two municipalities. For years, socio-economic factors have been considered among the major causes of radicalisation and violent extremism in Kosovo. In order to analyse the impact of socioeconomic factors on the emergence of radicalisation and violent extremism, during the research a comparison of these data has been conducted for the municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka with the low level of radicalisation and violent extremism and those of Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit, where the level of these negative phenomena is quite high. In addition to verifying whether there are significant differences in these characteristics between these two groups of municipalities, such research also tried to confirm whether there is a correlation between these characteristics and the emergence of radicalisation and violent extremism. For this purpose, in both municipalities the data for the following categories were analysed: population and demographic movements; level of education in municipalities; religion including religious objects and religious clerics; persons who participated in the wars in Syria and Iraq; criminality level; economic situation as well as the municipal budget, with special emphasis on capital expenditures and spending and subsidies for youth. Special attention has been given to the age group years because it is precisely the young people of this age who have been mostly affected by the phenomenon of radicalisation and violent extremism. 5

6 The comparison of all these socio-economic data for the four municipalities has shown that there are no major differences in any of the analysed categories between the municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka on one side, and those of Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit, on the other. Consequently, it has been concluded that there is no clear correlation between these socio-economic characteristics and the level of emergence of radicalisation and violent extremism in these four municipalities. These results have clearly challenged the socio-economic paradigm of explaining the appearance of religious intolerance and violent extremism, but they did not answer the question - why is the level of violent radicalisation and extremism much lower in the municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka than in some other municipalities? To answer this question, there was a need for a deeper analysis that takes into account the specific circumstances of these two municipalities. Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that the main factor contributing to the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism in these two municipalities is the appropriate and correct action by the Islamic Community Council (KBI). In both cases, the KBIs in question from the beginning have resisted the installation of organisations and individuals who have insisted on preaching the radical forms of Islam. Representatives of KBIs have constantly interacted with the citizens, not only in mosques during the prayer, but also during different meetings, including schools and media. Such radical ideologies have been unmasked as foreign and harmful to Albanians in Kosovo. Consequently, in these two municipalities, such associations have failed to find suitable ground for promoting radical forms of Islam despite continuous efforts, especially during the early post-war years. At the same time, in these two municipalities, these organisations have failed to find sufficient numbers of internal collaborators, as it has happened in other municipalities in Kosovo. In addition, it can be concluded that KBIs in both municipalities have shown special attention and courage during the process of appointment of the local Imams. Despite objections and disapproval by the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), and even serious tensions in the KBI-BIK direction, KBIs in both municipalities have rejected the appointment of any Imam or employee for whom there was evidence that they were involved in preaching the radical forms of Islam. Furthermore, KBIs in Podujevo and Suhareka have repeatedly rejected numerous offers from foreign organisations for the 6

7 construction of new mosques or reconstruction of mosques destroyed during the war, if such a (re)construction process has been conditioned with the appointment of certain Imams in these mosques or by insisting on preaching the radical forms of Islam in these religious objects. It can be concluded that a larger number of newly built mosques is not a barometer for measuring the level of radicalisation and violent extremism. In this regard, it is much more important which of the organisations have financed the construction of these new mosques, whether this construction was made with the permission of the municipal KBI, and whether these organisations have conditioned the construction of mosques with the appointment of certain Imams, or have insisted on preaching radical forms of Islam in these religious objects. At the same time, a very important element is the fact whether the KBIs at the municipal level have cooperated with representatives of radical "religious civil society" or have opposed such associations and have refused any cooperation with them. On the other hand, it can be concluded that the analysis has refuted the explanation put forward from some circles that the reason why radicalisation and violent extremism has failed to take root in the Llap region has to do with the fact that the population in that part of Kosovo has always been more religious than citizens in other parts of the country. Having this in mind, one should look for other reasons for explaining why radicalisation and violent extremism have not emerged in the municipality of Podujevo, but also that of Suhareka, whose inhabitants have traditionally been less religious. Based on the research, it can be concluded that another important factor for preventing radicalisation and violent extremism in these two municipalities has been the successful cooperation between local religious authorities, local government, and police. There are numerous examples where, through the joint coordination of KBI, local authorities and police, the illegal construction of a new mosque was blocked, the actions of groups preaching radical Islam were prevented, or the members of such groups were imprisoned. Regarding the role of political parties in preventing radicalisation and violent extremism, the situation in the two municipalities is somewhat different. In the Municipality of Podujevo, apart from some small exceptions, political parties have hardly acted in preventing these negative phenomena and during election campaigns, in order to secure additional votes, some of them have even flirted and collaborated 7

8 with certain groups and individuals who have been involved in the promotion of the radical forms of Islam. On the other hand, in the Municipality of Suhareka, political parties have not flirted with groups and individuals promoting radical forms of Islam in order to secure additional votes. Rather, they have often been actively engaged in promoting religious tolerance and Western values either individually or through meetings at the Municipal Council for Community Safety and discussions on these topics. At the same time, it can be concluded that co-operation related to the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism has been at a satisfactory level when it comes to relations between the local media and KBIs in both municipalities. Often, KBI representatives have appeared in local media to clarify the danger of radical forms of Islam that attempted to infiltrate the territory of the municipality. Through debates and lectures, such representatives have provided sound knowledge about Islam and have also explained the real truth behind the new movements with radical character. However, there are indications that the situation regarding radicalisation and religious extremism in the Municipality of Suhareka, and especially the one of Podujevo, has been worsening lately. Such reality is mainly related to the changes that have been made within municipal KBIs, as well as changes to the BIK Regulation regarding the appointment of Imams in all municipalities of Kosovo. While prior to these changes in the Regulation, Imams within the specific municipality were nominated by direct proposal of the KBI Presidency, with the latest changes, the appointment of Imams in different municipalities is now under strict jurisdiction of BIK Presidency. Having in mind that there are already radical members within the BIK Presidency, there is a risk that Imams who preach radical forms of Islam, different from traditional tolerant forms characteristic for Kosovo, might be appointed in the two municipalities, as well as across Kosovo. As a result, despite the objections of the municipal KBIs, some Imams who propagate the radical ideologies of Islam have already been appointed in both municipalities. The continuation of such a practice by BIK of appointing radicalized Imams can undoubtedly lead to increased levels of radicalisation and violent extremism in these municipalities. One hope in this regard is that citizens in both municipalities did not support attempts for activities leading to radicalisation, and have even directly helped in identification of groups and individuals who have attempted to preach radical forms of Islam. However, it remains questionable how the local population 8

9 would behave if KBI representatives in both municipalities had not been maximally engaged in preventing radicalisation and violent extremism from the beginning. Recommendations: The government institutions, as well as political and religious leaders should reintroduce a joint public discourse that will promote traditional tolerant forms of Islam, and will condemn foreign radical forms that undoubtedly lead to radicalisation and violent extremism. The Islamic Community of Kosovo should stop the appointment of radical Imams in its mosques. During the appointment of Imams, BIK should closely cooperate with representatives of municipal KBIs, especially in such municipalities as Podujevo and Suhareka that until now have shown low levels of radicalisation and violent extremism. An intensive and ongoing co-operation between local religious authorities, local government representatives, and the police to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism at the level of each municipality needs to be ensured. Authorities of the local government in cooperation with the central government should considerably increase capital investments and support for culture, youth and sports, especially those related to youth activities and infrastructure. Political parties, both at central and local levels, should act jointly in unmasking the preaching of radical forms of Islam, and in fighting groups and individuals that promote such forms, while respecting the freedom of speech and the indispensable right to religious belief, as fundamental human rights. The Justice System of Kosovo should swiftly implement the Legal Framework (Penal Code) regarding religious and ethnic hatred, as well as extremist preaching. Electronic media in Kosovo, both at the central and local level, should offer program schemes that promote tolerance and religious coexistence and not provide space to individuals who use the language of inter-religious and inter-ethnic hatred. 9

10 1. Introduction The issue of violent extremism and radicalisation has become central in Europe and worldwide since the attacks in Madrid (2004), London (2005), Glasgow (2007), and Paris (January and November 2015), among others. 1 As a result, prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism runs high on political agenda of almost every country and represents the most efficient way in coping with these negative phenomena of every society. Most notably because in that way one addresses the key causes of these phenomena, rather than dealing with their consequences. Consequently, a recent plethora of inter-state and intra-regional projects has been developed in Europe and worldwide to explore and develop strategies for prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism. Nowadays, the concept of radicalisation and violent extremism is mainly linked to an anti-liberal, fundamentalist, anti-democratic and regressive agenda, and is more and more associated with radical Islamism. According to Schmid, the concept of radicalism can be best described as something advocating sweeping political change, based on a conviction that the status quo is unacceptable while at the same time a fundamentally different alternative appears to be available. 2 In terms of means advocated to bring about the system-transforming radical solution for government and society, some authors argue that radicalism favours violent and non-democratic ones that are best achieved through coercion and revolution. 3 It should be mentioned that radical attitudes do not necessarily always result in violent behaviours. However, lately there has been an increasing link between radicalisation and violent extremism, with the two terms often being used interchangeably as synonyms. Unfortunately, in the last years such negative phenomena have not bypassed Kosovo either. For the most part of its history, Kosovo has been characterised by a high level of religious tolerance and cohabitation. In the past, radicalisation and violent extremism in 1 The Madrid train bombings occurred on 11 March 2004; the London bombings happened on 7 July 2005; the Glasgow International Airport attack happened on 30 June 2007; the Charlie Hebdo shootings occurred in Paris on 7 January 2015; the Bataclan attacks happened in Paris on 13 November See A. P. Schmid (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research, London: Routledge, 2011, See Scruton, R., A Dictionary of Political Thought, London: Macmillan, 1996,

11 Kosovo was mostly related to ethnicity rather than religion. This has especially been true for the Kosovo Albanians belonging to different religions. Since the process of the Albanian national awakening, Albanians in Kosovo have greatly prioritized ethnicity over their religious affiliation. As a result, Albanianism accompanied with religious cohabitation, represented the key feature of the Albanian nationalism in Kosovo. The process of disintegration of former Yugoslavia and struggle for independence ( ) marked the strongest social homogenization of Kosovar Albanians. The key features of the Albanian nationalism during this time were pro-western orientation and general unification of Albanians regardless of their religious and social background. 4 After the liberation and instalment of the UN Administration in 1999, Kosovo saw the resurgence of religiosity similarly to other post-communist countries. The new circumstances have inevitably triggered a process of radical transformation and redefinition of the place of religion. The presence of both Islam and Christianity became visible and pronounced in all public spheres, from personal lives to society at large, including politics. The consequences of war created multiple conditions that were at play during the first years after 1999, which provided fruitful bases for the religiosity of the society. The societal disorientation, high poverty, weak economy, and political void made Kosovo fertile ground for the resurgence of religion. 5 The entire Kosovar society was rapidly exposed to a variety of competing ideas, which were simultaneously more liberal, as well as more conservative. During this period, the Kosovo war-ravaged population was exposed to different international faith-based organisations that have mushroomed throughout the country after the war. Under the guise of humanitarian aid, such organisations have ruthlessly exploited the poverty and fragmented social conditions of Kosovar Albanians, especially in rural areas, and seriously disrupted the cultural traditions of these communities. As a result, different organisations from the Gulf States, and later Turkey as well, managed to introduce and strengthen new radical Islam religious doctrines 4 For a detailed explanation of this issue see Demjaha, Agon, Peci, Lulzim, What happened to Kosovo Albanians: The impact of religion on the ethnic identity in the state building-period. Policy Paper No. 1/16, Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), June Kursani, Shpend, Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, Kosovar Center for Security Studies. April 2015, p

12 throughout Kosovo. In this way, the loyalty of Kosovar Albanians has during these years slowly shifted from Albanianism and Kosovo state, to a religious identity, with the emergence of elements of radical Islam. 6 Therefore, it was not a surprise that in 2014 an enormous number of foreign fighters from Kosovo joined the wars in Syria and Iraq. At a certain point, Kosovo had around 300 fighters participating in these wars that actually represented the highest number of foreign fighters per capita in Europe. While Municipalities of Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit were the ones with the highest number of foreign fighters, two municipalities - Podujevo and Suhareka had very low or no foreign fighters at all, and had shown no signs of radicalisation and violent extremism that has been witnessed in other parts of the country. The aim of this paper is to investigate the reasons that contributed to the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism in these two municipalities. It is hoped that in doing so, the paper will offer useful insights related to the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism in these two municipalities that could then be used for applying similar approaches to other municipalities in Kosovo that have witnessed relatively high levels of radicalisation and violent extremism. After the introductory chapter, the paper continues with a chapter that discusses the socio-economic data of the Municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka. The same chapter also offers a comparative analysis of the socio-economic data of these two municipalities with the Municipalities of Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit that have seen the highest number of foreign fighters as well as high levels of radicalisation and violent extremism in general. The next chapter then engulfs in the task of explaining why there are no high levels of radicalisation and violent extremism in the Municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka in comparison to some other municipalities in Kosovo. Finally, the paper draws conclusions on key identified factors that have prevented the emergence of radicalisation and violent extremism in the Municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka, and it also provides a number of recommendations on how to adopt these findings in other municipalities of Kosovo. 6 Demjaha and Peci, 2016, p

13 2. Comparison of Socio-Economic Characteristics Until recently, socio-economic factors have served as the mainstream argument for explaining the emergence of radicalisation and violent extremism in Kosovo. The findings of the paper What happened to Kosovo Albanians: The impact of religion on the ethnic identity in the state building-period published by KIPRED in June 2016 have for the first time seriously challenged such socio-economic paradigm of explaining religious intolerance and violent extremism. 7 The aim of this section is to make a comparative analysis of different socio-economic characteristics between the two municipalities (Podujevo and Suhareka) that have not shown signs of radicalisation and violent extremism and the two municipalities with relatively high level of radicalisation and violent extremism (Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit). Such a comparative analysis should show whether there are significant differences of these characteristics between these two groups of municipalities and whether there is a correlation between these characteristics and the emergence of radicalisation and violent extremism. Available statistical data have shown that the (15-29) year age group represents the most exposed age group to radicalisation and violent extremism. On the other hand, according to a recent report commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the majority of Kosovo foreign fighters or those travelling to Syria and Iraq were between 21 and 30 (see Figure no.1). 8 For this reason, the primary focus of this analysis is specifically young people of this age. 7 See Demjaha, Agon, Peci, Lulzim, What happened to Kosovo Albanians: The impact of religion on the ethnic identity in the state building-period. Policy Paper No. 1/16, Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), June Xharra, Behar and Gojani, Nita, Understanding Push and Pull Factors in Kosovo: Primary Interviews with Returned Foreign Fighters and their Families, Pristina, Kosovo: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Factors_ENG.pdf 13

14 For this purpose, KIPRED has summarized data on the structure of the population and demographic shifts, on the level and structure of education, culture and sport, on the spread of information technology, religious structure, including the number of religious facilities and of clerics, violent extremism, the level of criminality, the structure of population according to economic activities, municipal budgets, and the support they provide for youth activities Socio-Economic Data: Municipality of Podujevo The structure of the population and the demographic shifts In terms of the size of its population, Podujevo is considered a mid-size municipality at the Kosovo level. The data of the population census of the year 2011 show that this municipality has had inhabitants, of which 39.20% were living in the city and 60.80% in the villages. 9 In terms of ethnic background, 98.89% of the inhabitants of Podujevo are Albanians, around 1% are Ashkalis, and the rest belong to other ethnic groups. The gender ratio of the population is 50.8% male and 49.2% female. 9 Popullsia Kosovës dhe shtimi natyror për vitin 2017 [The population of Kosovo and the natural growth for the year 2017], Platforma Online [Online Platform] ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës [The Kosovo Agency of Statistics]. 14

15 As mentioned already, the focus of this analysis is on youth, specifically on the (15-29) year age group, which constitutes 27.40% of the total population. On the other hand, the age group (0-14) years constitutes 30.30% of the total population, while the one (30-80) years makes up 42.30%. 10 According to the population census of the year 2011, the largest number of young people in the Municipality of Podujevo (73.70%) lives in 78 villages of the municipality, meanwhile, the other part (26.30%) lives in the city. An analysis of the demographic movements of the members of this age group shows that there is a continuous movement of young people from villages into the city. 11 The level and the structure of education, culture, and sport The data about the population of the Municipality of Podujevo above 10 years of age, according to the level of education and literacy, show that out of 1,000 inhabitants in this municipality, 48 are illiterate, 112 have not obtained any education, 481 have finished only the elementary school, 304 have finished the secondary school, and 55 have finished university and post-university studies. 12 According to the statistics for education in Kosovo for the academic year 2017/2018, the Municipality of Podujevo has 62 educational institutions, with 1,166 teachers and 19,732 pupils, with a 1.75 ratio of schools per 1,000 inhabitants of the age up to 19 years. Of the total number of educational institutions, 57 are elementary schools, four are high schools, and one functions as a centre of pre-school education. 13 It is worth mentioning that in the Municipality of Podujevo there is no functioning institution of higher education either in the public or in private sector. 10 Popullsia sipas moshave dhe llojit të vendbanimit [The population according to age and the type of habitat], Platforma Online [Online Platform] ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 11 Ibid. 12 Popullsia e moshës 10 vjeçe e mbi sipas nivelit të arsimimit (2011) [The population of the age above 10 years according to the level of education (2011)], Platforma Online ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 13 Statisktikat e Arsimit në Kosovë 2017/2018 [The statistics of the education in Kosovo 2017/2018], Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës, Ministria e Arsimit, Shkencës dhe Teknologjisë [The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology]. The link: 15

16 On the other hand, in the Municipality of Podujevo there are 18 sport clubs and six sport schools that utilize three soccer fields, 17 small soccer fields with synthetic grass, one sport hall and two sports complexes. On the other hand, within the municipality, there is one functional library, a youth centre and a theatre. It should be mentioned, though, that the amount of capital investments is not sufficient for the youth engaged in these fields to fulfil the needs for exercising their free activities. 14 The religious structure In terms of religious background, 99.7% of the population of the Municipality of Podujevo have declared themselves to be of Islamic belief, 0.01% were declared as members of the Catholic religion, 0.01% as Orthodox, while 0.25% include individuals without a religious affiliation, as well as those who have preferred not to answer. 15 It is worth mentioning that in the territory of the Municipality of Podujevo there are 41 functional mosques, three of which are in the city, and the other 38 are in the villages. The overall number of Islamic clerics serving in the municipality is After the war in 1999, four mosques that were destroyed during the war were renovated, while another 18 new mosques were built after the war. 17 The ratio of mosques per inhabitants is 0.61 mosques per 1,000 inhabitants in the villages, and mosques per 1,000 inhabitants in the city. Within the municipality, there are also three functioning associations that operate under the authority of the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), of which one is humanitarian, the second is for youth, and the third is for women. 18 The Catholic believers do not have in their service any Catholic church and no cleric of the Kosovo s Eparchy, although there is a church that is not functional. 19 On the other hand, Protestant believers have one cleric and a humanitarian association related to the 14 Cultural and Sport Infrastructure in the Municipality of Podujevo. Data received from the Directorate of Culture in the Municipality of Podujevo, 2 August Popullsia sipas gjinisë, religjionit dhe komunës 2011 [The population according to gender, religion and municipality 2011], Platforma Online ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 16 Data from the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), 7 July, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Municipal Profile of Podujevë/Podujevo (2018) 18 Data from the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), 7 July, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Municipal Profile of Podujevë/Podujevo (2018) 16

17 religious community, but they do not have any Protestant churches. 20 Orthodox believers currently have no clerics or Orthodox churches except a non-functional church renovated in 2010 that is protected by the Kosovo Police. 21 Violent Extremism The Municipality of Podujevo is among the municipalities in Kosovo with the lowest level of radicalisation and violent extremism. According to the data provided by the Police of Kosovo, only one individual from the municipality of Podujevo has joined terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. 22 At present, the police has no information about this person, except that currently he is not in the territory of the Municipality of Podujevo. According to the same sources, two other people have tried to join the groups fighting in Syria, but they were prevented by the Kosovo Police. 23 Based on the interviews with representatives of the municipality, as well as those of KBI and Kosovo Police at the municipal level, it can be concluded that there is satisfactory cooperation and coordination between these institutions in terms of preventing radicalisation and violent extremism in this municipality. 24 Within the Municipality of Podujevo there are also three other councils operating in the field of security, namely the Municipal Council for Community Safety, the Local Community for Public Safety, and the Community Safety Action Team. Meetings in these three councils are held regularly, and all relevant actors actively take part in them. 25 It is worth mentioning that according to the interviewees, the population in the entire territory of the municipality has played an important role in preventing radicalisation and violent extremism in this municipality, since it has, in general, not supported activities that lead to radicalisation 20 Data from the Community of the Protestant Church of Kosovo, 20 July Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Municipal Profile of Podujevë/Podujevo (2018) 22 Data from the Office for Information and Public Relations, Kosovo Police, 27 July Interview with Mr. Bekim Bislimi, the Commander of Kosovo Police in the Municipality of Podujevo, 19 October Interviews with Mr. Agim Veliu, the Mayor of the Municipality of Podujevo (9 August 2018), Imam 1 in the Municipality of Podujevo (9 August 2018) and Mr. Bekim Bislimi, the Commander of Kosovo Police in the Municipality of Podujevo (19 October 2018). 25 Interview with Mr. Bekim Bislimi, the Commander of Kosovo Police in the Municipality of Podujevo, 19 October

18 and did not accept individuals who have tried to engage in such actions. At present, no NGO actively promotes the radical forms of Islam within the municipality. There have been such attempts in the past, mainly from organisations that have been distributing aid or financial assistance, but representatives of these organisations have been expelled at the request of the municipal KBI since they were acting outside of BIK regulations. 26 The level of criminality The statistics on the level of criminality in the Municipality of Podujevo show that during the previous year (2017), there were 825 penal deeds committed in this municipality, 27 that is, 9.9 penal deeds per 1,000 inhabitants, which presents a medium level of criminality. The largest number of the committed penal deeds belong to the category of deeds against the wealth (474), and against the life and body (182). 28 The structure of the population according to economic activity Statistical data for the Municipality of Podujevo (for the year 2011) show that from 58,700 people above 15 years of age, only 36% are economically active, while 64% of the above population were declared economically inactive. On the other hand, from the active population above 15 years of age, only 50.4% are employed. 29 The structure of the employed for the entire population and the age group (19-29) years according to the level of education is presented in Figures no.2 and no Ibid. 27 Data from the Office of Information and Public Relations, Kosovo Police, 3 August Ibid. 29 Popullsia e moshës 15 vjeç e mbi sipas statusit të aktivitetit aktual (2011) [The population of age above 15 according to the status of actual activity (2011)], Online Platform ASKDATA, Kosovo Statistics Agency. 18

19 Figure no.2: Structure of the employed for the entire population according to the level of education Figure no.3: Structure of the employed for age group (15-29) according to the level of education As far as the economically inactive citizens are concerned, 22.38% of them have declared the continuation of education as a reason for this, and 40.82% have declared that they are taking care of their family and household, while 3.46% have mentioned other reasons. It should be noted that 3.38% of the population is in a hard economic 19

20 condition, living from social assistance, while 5.92% have mentioned pensions as their major source for living. 30 The Municipal Budget and the support of youth activities In terms of the size of the total budget, the Municipality of Podujevo is ranked as the seventh in Kosovo (after Prishtina, Prizren, Ferizaj, Peja, Gjilan and Gjakova), and its budget for the fiscal year 2018 amounts to million Euros. Budget revenues are predominantly from government allocations that account for about 91.56%, while the remaining 8.4% is generated by the municipality from its own revenues. Similarly with other municipalities, in the Municipality of Podujevo, wages and salaries remain the highest category with about 56% of the total budget. The category of goods and services takes part with 9%, while, the part dedicated to capital investments represents 30.36% of the total amount. 31 If we analyse the relation of the budget to capital investments, and to the support of culture, youth and sports, more specifically, to infrastructure and activities related to youth, we will see that this portion of the budget does not represent in any meaningful way the needs of this group of population (age group years), which constitutes 27.40% of the total population of the Municipality of Podujevo. For instance, in the budget for the year 2018, only 1.3% (282,047 Euros) of the total budget is foreseen to be spent in a way that will have an impact on young people, and this is categorized fully within the capital expenses, by representing 4% of their total value. It should be noted that most of these funds (79%) are dedicated for subsidies and transfers, and 21% for capital expenses Ibid. 31 Ligji për Buxhetin e Republikës së Kosovës për vitin 2018 [The Law on the Budget of the Republic of Kosovo for the year 2018), Ministry of Finance, B-E66CE614F4C1.pdf. 32 Ibid. 20

21 Culture, youth and sport 2018( 282 thousand) Capital Expenses Subsidies and transfers 21% 79% 2.2. Socio-Economic Data: Municipality of Suhareka The structure of the population and the demographic shifts In terms of the size of its population, Suhareka is considered a mid-size municipality at the Kosovo level. The data of the population census of the year 2011 show that this municipality has had inhabitants, of which only 17.45% were living in the city and 82.55% in the villages. 33 In terms of ethnic background, 96.56% of the inhabitants of Suhareka are Albanians, around 0.8% are Ashkalis, and the rest belong to other ethnic groups. 34 The gender ratio of the population is 49.36% male and 50.64% female. Since the age group (15-29) years represents the age group that is mostly exposed to radicalisation and violent extremism, it is logical that the primary focus of this analysis is precisely on young people of this age. Within the general population, this group is represented by 28.10%, while the age group (0-14) years includes 29.20%, and the one with (30-80) years includes a total of 42.70%. 35 On the other hand, the population census 33 Popullsia e Kosovës dhe shtimi natyror për vitin 2017 [The population of Kosovo and the natural growth for the year 2017], Platforma Online [Online Platform] ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës [The Kosovo Agency of Statistics]. 34 Popullsia sipas përkatësisë etnike 2011 [The population according to ethnic background, 2011], Platforma Online [Online Platform] ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 35 Popullsia sipas moshave dhe llojit të vendbanimit [The population according to age and the type of habitat], Platforma Online [Online Platform] ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 21

22 of the year 2011 shows that the largest number of young people in the Municipality of Suhareka (82.40%) live in 42 villages of the municipality, while only a small part (17.60%) live in the city. An analysis of the demographic movements of the members of this age group shows that there is a continuous movement of young people from villages into the city. 36 The level and the structure of education, culture, and sport The data about the population of the Municipality of Suhareka above 10 years of age, according to the level of education and literacy, show that out of 1,000 inhabitants in this municipality, 41 are illiterate, 94 have not obtained any education, 613 have finished only the elementary school, 230 have finished the secondary school, and 61 have finished university and post-university studies. 37 According to the data from the Directorate for Education of the Municipality of Suhareka, within the municipality there are 45 functional educational institutions, with 839 teachers and 12,699 pupils, with a 1.88 ratio of schools per 1,000 inhabitants of the age up to 19 years. Of the total number of educational institutions, 41 are elementary schools, three are high schools, and one functions as a centre of pre-school education. 38 Similarly to the Municipality of Podujevo, in Suhareka there is also no institution of higher education either in the public or in the private sector. On the other hand, in the municipality of Suhareka there are 21 sport clubs, a library, 3 cultural houses, 4 culturalartistic societies and a youth centre. However, as it will be shown later, the amount of capital investments is not sufficient for the youth engaged in these fields to fulfil the needs for exercising their free activities Ibid. 37 Popullsia e moshës 10 vjeçe e mbi sipas nivelit të arsimimit (2011) [The population of the age above 10 years according to the level of education (2011)], Platforma Online [Online Platform] ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 38 Directorate for Education, Municipality of Suhareka, 15 November Information from the Directorate for Culture, Youth, Sports and Diaspora, Municipality of Suhareka, 15 November

23 The religious structure In terms of religious background, 98.3% of the population of the Municipality of Suhareka have declared themselves to be of Islamic belief, 0.6% were declared as members of the Catholic religion, 0.01% as Orthodox, while 1% include individuals without religious affiliation, as well as those who have preferred to not answer. It is interesting to note that in the Municipality of Suhareka there are a larger number of people who prefer not to answer about their religious affiliation, i.e. 467 persons or 0.8% of citizens belong to this category. 40 On the other hand, in the territory of the Municipality of Suhareka there are 24 functional mosques, one of which is in the city, and the other 23 are in the villages. The overall number of Islamic clerics serving in the municipality is It should be mentioned that after the war in 1999, 14 mosques destroyed during the war were renovated, while another five new mosques were built after the war. 42 The ratio of mosques per inhabitants is 0.47 mosques per 1,000 inhabitants in the villages, and only mosques per 1,000 inhabitants in the city. Within the municipality, there are also three functioning associations that operate under the authority of the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), of which one is humanitarian, the second is for youth, and the third is for women. 43 The catholic believers have in their service one Catholic church in the village of Sallagrazhde that functions regularly. On the other hand, Protestant believers have one church and one cleric in their service, as well as a humanitarian association related to the religious community. 44 Orthodox believers currently have no clerics or Orthodox churches since the existing six churches before the war have all been destroyed in June 1999 and have never been renovated Popullsia sipas gjinisë, religjionit dhe komunës 2011 [The population according to gender, religion and municipality 2011], Platforma Online ASK Data, Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 41 Data from the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), 7 July Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Suharekë/Suva Reka Municipal Profile (2018), 10 October 10 October 2018, 43 Data from the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK), 7 July, Data from the Community of the Protestant Church of Kosovo, 20 July Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Municipal Profile of Podujevë/Podujevo (2018) 23

24 Violent Extremism The Municipality of Suhareka is among the municipalities in Kosovo with the lowest level of radicalisation and violent extremism. According to the data provided by the Police of Kosovo, no individual from the municipality of Suhareka has joined terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. 46 There is also no data about individuals who have in the past attempted to join such groups in Syria and Iraq and were eventually prevented from doing so. 47 Based on the interviews with representatives of the municipality, as well as those of KBI and Kosovo Police at the municipal level, it can be concluded that there is a satisfactory cooperation and coordination between these institutions in terms of preventing radicalisation and violent extremism in this municipality. 48 It worth noting that within the Municipality of Suhareka, there are also two councils operating in the field of security, namely the Municipal Council for Community Safety and the Council that functions as coordinative body among the Mayor and the police at municipal level on one hand, and the representatives of KFOR and OSCE, on the other. Meetings of these two councils are held regularly, and all relevant actors actively take part in them. 49 It is worth mentioning that similarly to the Municipality of Podujevo, in the one of Suhareka, the population in the entire territory of the municipality has also played an important role in preventing radicalisation and violent extremism in this municipality. Local population has in general not supported activities that lead to radicalisation and did not accept individuals who have tried to engage in such actions. At present, no NGO actively promotes the radical forms of Islam within the municipality. There have been such attempts in the past, mainly from organisations coming from Prizren, but 46 Data from the Office for Information and Public Relations, Kosovo Police, 27 July Interview with Mr. Milazim Lumi, the Commander of Kosovo Police in the Municipality of Suhareka, 18 October Interviews with Mr. Bali Muharremaj, the Mayor of the Municipality of Suhareka (30 August 2018), Imam 1 in the Municipality of Suhareka (30 August 2018) and Mr. Milazim Lumi, the Commander of Kosovo Police in the Municipality of Suhareka (18 October 2018). 49 Interview with Mr. Milazim Lumi, the Commander of Kosovo Police in the Municipality of Suhareka, 18 October

25 representatives of these organisations have been expelled at the request of the municipal KBI since they were acting outside of BIK regulations. 50 The level of criminality The statistics on the level of criminality in the Municipality of Suhareka show that during the previous year (2017) there were 603 penal deeds committed in this municipality. The largest number of the committed penal deeds belong to the category of deeds against the wealth (340), and against the life and body (158). 51 The structure of the population according to economic activity Statistical data for the Municipality of Suhareka (for the year 2011) show that from 42,313 people above 15 years of age, only 35.48% are economically active, while 64.52% of the above population were declared economically inactive. On the other hand, from the active population above 15 years of age, only 50.4% are employed. 52 Structure of the employed for the entire population and the age group (19-29) years according to the level of education is presented in Figures no.4 and no Ibid. 51 Data from the Office of Information and Public Relations, Kosovo Police, 7 November Popullsia e moshës 15 vjeç e mbi sipas statusit të aktivitetit aktual (2011) [The population of age above 15 according to the status of actual activity (2011)], Online Platform ASKDATA, Kosovo Statistics Agency. 25

26 Figure no.4: Structure of the employed for the entire population according to the level of education Figure no.5: Structure of the employed for age group (15-29) according to the level of education As far as the economically inactive citizens are concerned, 21.40% of them have declared the continuation of education as a reason for this, 42.76% have declared that they are taking care of their family and household, while 2.87% have mentioned other reasons. Again, similarly to the Municipality of Podujevo, it should be noted that 3.92% 26

27 of the population is in a hard economic condition, living from social assistance, while 5.83% have mentioned pensions as their major source for living. 53 The Municipal Budget and the support of youth activities In terms of the size of the total budget, the Municipality of Suhareka belongs to the group of municipalities with an average budget, and its budget for the fiscal year 2018 amounts to million Euros. It should be noted that Municipality of Suhareka is among the three municipalities that have not approved the budget in their Municipal Assemblies in accordance to the budget limits, however, based on the available data it can be concluded that budget revenues are predominantly from government allocations that account for about 85.96%, while the remaining 14.04% is generated by the Municipality from its own revenues. Similarly to other municipalities, in the Municipality of Suhareka, wages and salaries remain the highest category with about 58% of the total budget. The category of goods and services takes part with 7.8%, while, the part dedicated to capital investments is around 30% of the total amount. 54 If we analyse the relation of the budget to capital investments, and to the support of culture, youth, and sports, more specifically, to infrastructure and activities related to youth, we will see that this portion of the budget does not represent in any meaningful way the needs of this group of population (age group years), which constitutes 28.10% of the total population of the Municipality of Suhareka. Thus, in the budget for the year 2018, only 1.98% (273,000 Euros) of the total budget is foreseen to be spent in a way that will have an impact on young people, and this is categorized fully within the capital expenses, by representing 6% of their total value. It should be noted that most of these funds (72%) are dedicated for subsidies and transfers, and 28% for capital expenses Ibid. 54 Ligji për Buxhetin e Republikës së Kosovës për vitin 2018 [The Law on the Budget of the Republic of Kosovo for the year 2018), Ministry of Finance, B-E66CE614F4C1.pdf. 55 Ibid. 27

28 Culture, youth and sport 2018( 273 thousand) Capital Expenses Subsidies and transfers 28% 72% Among others, according to the budget it is foreseen that 44,107 Euros will be spent on subsidies for sports competitions, 25,746 Euros for the support of cultural-artistic societies, while only 4,950 Euros for book exhibitions and publications. On the other hand, within the framework of capital investments, 27,000 Euros are foreseen for arranging facilities for cultural and festive activities, 45,000 Euros for the construction and renovation of sports and cultural facilities, 108,000 Euros for the construction of the Sports Centre in Studenqan and only 9,500 Euros for capacity building of the youth action council Comparative Analysis of Socio-Economic Data In this section we will compare different socio-economic data between Municipalities of Podujevo and Suhareka on the one hand, and Municipalities of Kaçanik and Hani i Elezit, on the other. Clearly, by comparing the data of two municipalities that have not shown signs of radicalisation and violent extremism and those of the two municipalities with relatively high level of radicalisation and violent extremism, this section aims to show whether there are significant differences in these characteristics between these two groups of municipalities and whether there is a correlation between these characteristics and the emergence of radicalization and violent extremism. For this 56 Information from the Directorate for Culture, Youth, Sports and Diaspora, Municipality of Suhareka, 15 November