Kosovo Protests Erupt Over Fatal Neglect

Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Kosovo this week following the murder of a woman who had recently sought police protection.

Arlinda Zekaj, 49, was found dead in her bedroom in the village of Vitomirica near Peja on October 25. She was the eighth woman killed in the country this year. Her brother-in-law, Albert Sylaj, is the alleged perpetrator.

Police records show Zekaj reported her husband to officers on the day she died. He was arrested, and she requested protection from his family. Officers drove her home, and she stepped out of the squad car at 8:58 p.m. An emergency call arrived shortly after. When responders arrived at 9:10 p.m., they found her body in her bedroom. She had been struck with an axe. Sylaj fled the scene and was arrested near Peja on October 27.

Warning signs had emerged over the summer. A court in Peja issued a protection order that granted Zekaj temporary custody of her son and allowed her to stay in the family home. The order required her husband to remain at least two meters away indoors and 20 meters away outdoors. Zekaj chose to stay in her home rather than move to a women's shelter.

She continued filing complaints, including threats from Sylaj. On October 22, three days before the murder, she told police that members of her husband's family were in her home against her wishes. She said Sylaj warned her to leave or he would kill her. Despite this, police questioned Sylaj only as a witness in the case against her husband.

Public anger intensified the day after the killing. On October 26, activists poured red paint on the government building steps in Pristina and hung a banner reading, "The state killed Arlinda." Demonstrations continued on November 1, with many protesters carrying photos of murdered women. A recurring slogan demanded accountability, stating, "The government has blood on its hands."

Protesters want criminal charges against police officers and prosecutors involved in the case. They also demand the resignation of Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla and Justice Minister Donika Gervalla. Prime Minister Albin Kurti appointed Gervalla in March as the national coordinator for protection against domestic violence. Both ministers have refused to step down, while Kurti admitted that state institutions failed.

Since 2010, 55 women in Kosovo have been killed by partners or family members. Senior police officers in Peja and a prosecutor who handled Zekaj's complaints have been suspended. Liridona Sijarina, an activist with Kolektivi Feminist, said those involved must be criminally prosecuted. She added that the government must create a dedicated unit for women's safety and prioritize affordable social housing for survivors. She stated, "The government now has the opportunity to show whether it truly takes women's lives seriously."