BIK calls for verification of “Top Secret” document in Sheholli file and claims of Serbian influence

The Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) has called on the authorities to investigate the authenticity of a document classified as “Top Secret”, included in the indictment against Fatmir Sheholli, who is suspected of spying in favor of Serbia. BIK is also calling for the claims that this religious community was influenced by the secret services of the neighboring state to be verified.

Kosovo’s Grand Mufti, Naim Tërnava, said on Saturday that the publication of materials presented as part of the indictment filed this week, as well as the document publicly known as “Top Secret”, had created “a situation that requires prudence, responsibility and, above all, the full clarification of the truth”.

Sheholli has been in pretrial detention since his arrest in October last year. Prosecutors allege that he collaborated with Serbia’s Security and Information Agency (BIA).

According to the indictment, a photograph of a document written in Serbian, bearing the marking “Top Secret 2”, was found on Sheholli’s confiscated phone.

The document claims that money collected from Islamic embassies in Belgrade would be used to build mosques in Kosovo. According to its contents, the aim would be to expand the influence of Islam in Kosovo, divide Albanians, encourage emigration and change the West’s perception of Kosovo, with the goal of creating conditions for Serbia to restore Kosovo under its jurisdiction.

Tërnava described these claims as “extremely serious” and said they could not be accepted as established facts or remain merely at the level of interpretations and public statements.

“For this reason, they must be subjected to full institutional verification, based on facts, documents and evidence,” he stressed.

The Grand Mufti addressed citizens, competent institutions, the Special Prosecution and all professional bodies in Kosovo, calling for every claim made public to be examined “fully, professionally and institutionally”.

“If such a document exists and if it is authentic, it must be made clear who drafted it, what source it came from, for what purpose it was prepared, under what circumstances it was used and what value it has in factual and evidentiary terms,” said the head of BIK.

Tërnava also called for clarification as to whether, and to what extent, this document or other similar materials had been used in recent years as a basis for accusations, campaigns or actions against the Islamic Community of Kosovo, its institutions, mosques, madrasas, theologians, imams and leaders.

He added that the Islamic Community of Kosovo had the right and duty to seek protection for its name, activities and credibility against unverified claims.

Kosovo is a Muslim-majority country. In the latest population census, conducted in 2024, around 95 percent of residents declared that they belonged to the Islamic faith.

Claims that the Serbian intelligence service is seeking to exploit Islamic groups in Kosovo are not new.

In a request for the detention of Fehim Sali, who was accused of spying for Serbia, the Special Prosecution had stated that, among other things, he collected information on people belonging to the Wahhabi sect.

The court hearing against Fatmir Sheholli is expected to begin on September 7.

His case is one of several investigations into suspected espionage in favor of Serbia conducted by Kosovo authorities in recent years. / RFE