World Apathy of the Woes of Kosovo Muslims

World Apathy of the Woes of Kosovo Muslims

Historical Background

Long before the arrival of Ottomans, Islâm had spread in Kosovo through the North African Arab merchants. Today about 95% of Kosovo's 2.5 million population are Muslim. "The percentage of Muslims was even higher than this before the settlement of Serbs in Kosovo." say Dr Rexhap Boja, president of the Islâmic Community and grand Mufti of Kosovo.

Kosovo was first part of Albania. A conspiracy was than hatched to weaken the Muslim dominated European country. According to the conference of ambassadors in London in 1912, Europe gave Kosovo to Serbia, and it was further divided between Serbia and Macedonia.

The Kosovan Muslims did not accept the oppressive rule of Serbia. From 1981 to 1989, Kosovan Muslims struggled for independence but the Serbian government throttled their demands by removing their rights of autonomy. In 1990, Kosovo was the first Yugoslavian republic to declare independence. Since then, the Serbs brought in more troops from Serbia, crush the independence movement and totally occupied the country.

Kosovo re-launched an independence movement in 1991. The people of Kosovo have since been struggling to get rid of the Serbian occupation by peaceful means.

Nevertheless, the situation in Kosovo steadily deteriorates, Serb repression increases, and violence is rising. The past few weeks has seen escalating tension in the region.

We request the readers to make du‘â for our Muslim brothers and sisters that Allâh strengthens them in the face of oppression and repression.

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