Kosovo makes arrests in new push to stem flow of fighters to Syria, Iraq
- 10 years ago
Police in Kosovo have made arrests in the capital Pristina to stop the flow of young ethnic Albanians joining Islamist fighters in Iraq and Syria.
They say it's the second major operation of its kinds in recent weeks.
Among those arrested is reportedly an influential imam from the Grand Mosque and the leader of a political party rooted in Islam.
(SOUNDBITE) (ALBANIAN) KOSOVO POLICE SPOKESMAN, MAJOR BAKI KELANI, SAYING:
"Fifteen suspects were arrested for endangering constitutional order and security of the Republic of Kosovo...The majority of the arrested are imams from different mosques that belong to the Islamic Community of Kosovo."
A police source told Reuters the men face charges that include terrorism, incitement and hate speech.
Most of Kosovo's nearly 2 million people are ethic Albanian Muslims and lead mostly secular lives.
But there's a creeping fear that radical Islam is stirring in nearby Balkan countries like Serbia and Bosnia -- a
They say it's the second major operation of its kinds in recent weeks.
Among those arrested is reportedly an influential imam from the Grand Mosque and the leader of a political party rooted in Islam.
(SOUNDBITE) (ALBANIAN) KOSOVO POLICE SPOKESMAN, MAJOR BAKI KELANI, SAYING:
"Fifteen suspects were arrested for endangering constitutional order and security of the Republic of Kosovo...The majority of the arrested are imams from different mosques that belong to the Islamic Community of Kosovo."
A police source told Reuters the men face charges that include terrorism, incitement and hate speech.
Most of Kosovo's nearly 2 million people are ethic Albanian Muslims and lead mostly secular lives.
But there's a creeping fear that radical Islam is stirring in nearby Balkan countries like Serbia and Bosnia -- a