On August 1. through a press release Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) with its partners from civil society have reacted against homophobic views expressed by the Kosovar pathologist, Dr. Nazim Qehaja.

Qehaja caused a scandal by openly justifying sexual violence, which, according to him, occurs because a girl/woman dresses in a way that is considered “immoral and anti-national”. After several reactions on social media by activists for human rights, women’s rights, girls’ rights, and LGBT persons rights, Dr. Qehaja continued defending his views that sexual violence is justified in some cases and that rapists should not be punished nor held accountable before the law.

Through this letter, the undersigned organizations, remind Dr. Qehaja that if sexual assault were specific to persons with mental disorders, then our state, through laws in harmony with those of democratic developed countries, would not define sexual assault as a criminal offense, punishable with 2-10 years in prison, but as a mental health disorder.

The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo guarantees freedom and security for every citizen, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, nation, race or religion.  According to the law, any person inciting hatred and disunity must receive deserved punishment. Therefore, we also demand that the State Prosecutor’s Office urgently take action against Dr. Qehaja.

Read HERE the full Press Release.  

Signed by:    

DokuFest 

Lumbardhi Foundation 

Kosovo Civil Society Foundation – KCSF 

Cultural Heritage without Borders Kosovo Foundation – CHwB  

Community Development Fund – CDF 

INTEGRA 

Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development – KIPRED  

Kosovar Youth Council – KYC 

Equal Rights for All Coalition – ERAC 

GAP Institute  

Youth Initiative for Human Rights – YIHR 

Organization for Increasing Quality of Education – ORCA 

NGO Consumer  

Centre for Equality and Liberty of the LGBT Community – CEL 

Center for Social Group Development – CSGD Kosova 

Art and Community Center – Artpolis  

Advocacy Training and Resource Center – ATRC 

European Center for Minority Issues – ECMI Kosovo 

Center for Legal Aid and Regional Development – CLARD  

Kosovar Gender Studies Center – KGSC 

Kosovo Women’s Network – KWN 

Kosovar Stability Initiative- IKS 

Syri i Vizionit 

Center for Counseling, Social Services and Research- SIT 

Shkëlzen Maliqi 

Lawyers Association – Norma 

Numismatic Association – Demastion