Who is Fueling the Trend Towards ISIS in Kosovo?

A 19-year-old from Kosovo, who previously joined the Islamic State (ISIS), shares his experiences and life in the breeding grounds of radical Islamism with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. During the interview, this slender young man smokes continuously, and his hands tremble as he recounts his memories of joining ISIS. He states that he had never left Kosovo before but found himself two years ago at one of the border crossings between Turkey and Syria, which is a main route for foreign fighters joining ISIS. Smugglers of this group transport foreign fighters across the border, and after two weeks of military training in the city of Raqqa, they head to the front lines. However, this young man, who introduces himself as 'Adam' to protect his true identity, changed his mind just hours before crossing the border and returned to Kosovo. He says, 'I realized that going to Syria had nothing to do with Islam.' The Kosovo government estimates that over 300 of its citizens have gone to the Middle East for jihad. With a population of about 2 million, which gained independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo is the largest per capita exporter of fighters to jihadist groups. Particularly, the city of Kaçanik in southern Kosovo has gained a reputation as the capital of jihadist groups in the Balkans. Over the past three years, at least 24 young men from this city, which has a population of 30,000, have gone to join jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria. Adam began his shift towards radical groups after receiving an invitation via email to attend sermons by the imam of a nearby city. He participated in these training and Quran interpretation sessions for five months and lived with a group of other young men in a small mosque they built themselves. These sessions were organized by an Islamic charity called Albanian Muslim Youth in the city of Kaçanik. This is one of several secretive and radical organizations funded by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries that promote radical Islamism. These organizations have been accused of brainwashing youth and sending them to jihadist groups. Adam states that the training from this organization was very strict and severe. 'We were told not to go to cafes and were not allowed to shake hands with women.' Signs of increased Islamic conservatism in the region can be clearly observed. The number of women wearing headscarves and Islamic attire, as well as men with long beards, has increased. According to Adam, these classes began with teaching and interpreting the Quran and then progressed to topics of martyrdom and ultimately to war in Syria and Iraq. He mentions a well-known cleric named Zakaria Qasemi, who taught about jihad. This individual recently stated in a YouTube video, 'The blood of infidels is the best drink for us.' Local media report that Zakaria Qasemi is responsible for recruiting and sending at least 11 people to ISIS, three of whom have been killed in Syria. When asked if he was threatened after leaving the group, Adam replied, 'I never felt in danger. It was my decision.' Organizations that operate under the guise of charities and are funded by Gulf Arab countries have taken root in rural areas like Kaçanik, where the government pays little attention and poverty and unemployment are severe. Men living in these areas are suitable targets for promoting and spreading their ideas. Islamic charities establish schools and dormitories and have programs for social and welfare assistance to the people; however, they also promote radical Islamism and seem to have established a small base in Kaçanik. Adam believes that charities funded by Arabs focus on poor families, often single-parent households. He states that in exchange for participating in Islamic education classes, they provide housing, pocket money, and clothing and shoes. Most of those attracted to these organizations are young men who have completed their high school education but have no jobs or sources of income. Basim Ilazi, the mayor of Kaçanik, says, 'These charities are not registered and have attracted poor people to their ideas through a group of radicals.' He points to several abandoned buildings and factories on the outskirts of the city, saying, 'Economic problems are the main reason people join such groups.'