Protests for Arlinda enter second week: Criminal prosecutions and ministers’ dismissals demanded

Under the slogan “It ends with Arlinda,” people from cities across Kosovo gathered today in central Prishtina for a nationwide protest against femicide. The gathering was called after the killing of Arlinda Zekaj in Vitomiricë, Pejë. The march, organized by the Collective for Feminist Thought and Action, began at 12:00 near the Mother Teresa Cathedral. The collective had called on people from all cities to take part.

As protesters gathered, a recording was played in which Arlinda Zekaj sought help at the police station in Pejë, Klan Kosova reported. Participants say the suspensions so far are insufficient and are demanding the dismissal and criminal prosecution of everyone who failed to protect her.

The organizers have presented six demands to the authorities. They want chief prosecutor Lumturije Vuçetaj, prosecutor on the case Suada Rama Hamza, court president Shemsedin Haxhiaj, judge Migjen Kastrati, acting director of the Center for Social Work Shpresa Lukaj and lieutenant Faruk Muqolli dismissed, prosecuted and imprisoned. They make the same demand of every other official involved in the case.

Among their demands are the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gërvalla and Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla, as well as the resignation of Pejë mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri. The organizers also want femicide declared a national emergency, state-provided social housing for survivors of domestic violence, independent and nonpartisan vetting of the justice system, and the legalization of self-defense spray for women.

The mobilization for Arlinda has entered its second week. On Thursday, the ninth consecutive day of protests, activists blocked traffic on the road near the Qendra Police Station in Prishtina. Protests and marches have also taken place in Pejë, Mitrovicë, Ferizaj and Istog. During the week, chief state prosecutor Zejnulla Gashi met in his office with activists who had requested a meeting about the case.

Arlinda Zekaj was 49 when she was killed on October 25 in Vitomiricë, Pejë, just minutes after reporting domestic violence to the police. Her former brother-in-law is suspected of the killing.

Information presented by the Ministry of Justice shows that on July 10 she had reported physical and psychological abuse by her husband. On September 7, she applied to the Basic Court in Pejë for an emergency protection order and, that same day, sent the court a message expressing fear for her life. On October 16, the court ordered her return to the home she shared with her former husband, where her son was. Requests to enforce that decision remained unresolved.

After the killing, Gazmend Hoxha resigned as director general of the Kosovo Police; Prime Minister Albin Kurti accepted his resignation. Eleven police officers and prosecutors who had handled the case were also suspended.

At a news conference on October 30, Gërvalla and Sveçla refused to resign. Gërvalla said the documentation obtained up to that point showed serious delays and shortcomings. According to her, Arlinda Zekaj’s killing did not happen without warning: the authorities had received clear signals that her life was in danger.

Gërvalla asked whether the failures to act stemmed solely from negligence or whether political or criminal circles had also played a role. She said resigning would not speed up the identification of those responsible and asked to continue working to address the failures; according to her, resignations could be discussed again afterward. Sveçla said he understood the protesters’ anger but did not believe his departure would bring about the change they wanted. The PDK and the Alliance have also called for both ministers to resign.

On Friday, the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission into the killing of Arlinda Zekaj held a meeting closed to the media. Before it began, members discussed the absence of reports from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Both ministries’ reports had been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on October 29, and Prime Minister Kurti has pledged to make them public.

The protest in Prishtina is still ongoing. Bota Sot will continue to follow it.