A ceremony to bless a plot of land in the village of Zogaj, Vushtrri, where the Prizren-Prishtina Diocese plans to build a church in the future, has sparked protests by residents of several villages in the municipality and triggered a public debate in Kosovo.
Të lidhura
None found
The event, held on August 17, was interpreted differently by the Municipality of Vushtrri and the Catholic Church of Kosovo.
Municipal authorities say they were not informed in advance about the laying of the cornerstone and that they had not received an application for a construction permit. The Church, on the other hand, insists that the municipality had been notified, while clarifying that the ceremony did not mark the start of construction work on the building.
The debate began to take public shape at the end of July, when the Council of the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) in Vushtrri spoke out against the plan. Its statement said that in the area where the construction is planned, “not a single Catholic believer lives there and all the surrounding villages are Muslim.”
The Council stressed that “any project that may be perceived as provocative or that infringes on the feelings of the community must be addressed with responsibility and prudence.”
BIK in Vushtrri did not respond to Radio Free Europe’s (RFE/RL) request for further clarification.
The Prizren-Prishtina Diocese told RFE/RL that the ceremony had been misinterpreted. Dom Fran Kola, the episcopal vicar, explained that on August 17 the land was blessed and a cornerstone was laid for a religious building that could be constructed in the future.
According to him, the mayor of Vushtrri had been informed in advance about the ceremony, while the Kosovo Police had been notified during July.
Kola said the Diocese had planned to hold a Mass in Zogaj on August 18 to bless the site and baptize several people.
The baptism was moved to Mother Teresa Cathedral in Prishtina, with the stated aim of preserving calm and peace in Vushtrri and among the Albanian people.
Regarding the property, Kola said that the plot belongs to the Diocese and covers an area of 11,266 square meters. According to him, it was donated by the Musa family from Maxhunaj.
The BIK Council in Vushtrri has raised suspicions that the project may be backed by individuals whom it says are known for “divisive rhetoric” and “inciting interreligious hatred.”
Kola believes that in this case BIK was referring to movements that call for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity, including the Deçan Movement and the Return Movement.
“No movement, nor any political party, is involved. Absolutely not,” Kola said, emphasizing that the initiative is being led by the Diocese.
The Return Movement told RFE/RL that it has no role in the project, but that, at the request of residents, it distributed information about the August 17 ceremony.
Arbër Gashi, a representative of the organization, said the aim is not to build churches, but for “Albanians to peacefully return to the faith of their ancestors.”
Kosovo is a secular state. According to the 2024 population census, 93.49 percent of citizens identified as Muslim, 2.31 percent as Orthodox and 1.75 percent as Catholic.
Clashes between Muslim and Catholic believers over conversions have frequently appeared on social media. Numerous reactions also followed the publication of the plan to build the church in the Municipality of Vushtrri.
Gashi said that Musë Musa, whom he identified as one of the people who donated land for the construction of the church, is not a member of the Return Movement.
Earlier, a lawyer filed a criminal complaint with the Special Prosecution against Musa, accusing him of inciting hatred and intolerance. According to the lawyer’s allegation, Musa had called on social media for the killing of Muslims.
The Special Prosecution did not comment to RFE/RL on the matter.
Gashi said that the Return Movement does not support either hate speech or insults against members of another religious community. The Diocese also said it condemns anyone who insults believers of any faith.
The Diocese said that, based on the data available to it, more than 100 Catholic believers live in Vushtrri. According to the Diocese, “when a sufficient number is reached, we will turn to the competent authorities with a project and a request.”
This figure does not correspond with the results of the 2024 population census, in which only 37 residents of the Municipality of Vushtrri identified as Catholic.
Kola said that more than 300 to 500 people are needed to move the project forward.
Speaking about the August 17 ceremony, he said: “Construction was neither present in our minds, nor in our actions, nor will it be until we have a sufficient number of people to build a facility.”
Kosovo’s Constitution guarantees freedom of belief and religion for every citizen. Religious denominations have the right to organize their activities and rites independently, as well as to establish religious schools and charitable institutions. / RFE/RL
