Ilire Dauti Faces Criticism Over “Stop Reading in Arabic” Remark to Afrim Gashi

MP Ilire Dauti has come under criticism following a statement directed at Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi. She said: “I hope you will not continue reading in Arabic.”

VLEN MP Imerlije Saliu responded by calling for a public clarification of what the statement meant. She stressed that these words could be considered offensive to believers, for whom Arabic holds particular religious significance.

In her response, Saliu wrote: “For nearly two years, I have not responded to colleagues individually, but there are times when silence is not the answer.” She questioned whether the remark reflected a personal belief, a rhetorical device, or something else.

According to Saliu, the statement cannot be left unexplained because it touches on a sensitive issue concerning respect for religious freedoms and sentiments. She therefore called on Ilire Dauti to publicly clarify what she meant by those words.