Violence against women in Kosovo sparks Pristina protest calls for stronger state action

Protesters in Kosovo demanded tougher state action against violence towards women on Wednesday. Crowds in Pristina splashed red paint on government buildings. Demonstrators said the colour symbolised official failure and "blood on their hands\". The rally followed the killing of Arlinda Zekaj, 49, near Peja on Sunday. Activists said domestic abuse had already killed eight women in 2025.

Representative image

Marchers carried banners and photos of women who were killed. One banner asked, \"Do we have to die to be taken seriously?\". Other messages were written in red paint. They included \"Men kill women, the state stays silent\" and \"Down with the patriarchal system\". The protest highlighted anger at what organisers described as repeated official inaction.

Kosovo violence against women case sparks scrutiny

Zekaj held dual US and Kosovo citizenship, and had asked authorities for help. Three days before the killing, Zekaj wrote to the chief prosecutor’s office. Zekaj warned that \"officials were shifting responsibility from one to another thus allowing the danger to my life to continue.\" Public anger grew after reports that those warnings did not bring protection.

Relatives said Zekaj had reported violence by the husband more than once. Zekaj had moved to live with parents while seeking safety measures. Zekaj returned home after the husband was detained last weekend for family violence. Police did not provide an escort, a relative said. The brother-in-law allegedly killed Zekaj with an ax.

Police said the suspect fled and was later arrested after several days on the run. The arrest was for murder with a sharp object. Neither the suspect nor others named in the allegations commented publicly. Activists described the sequence as a test of how agencies respond during high risk moments. Protesters argued that gaps at such times can prove fatal.

Kosovo violence against women response in Parliament and government

Kosovo’s Parliament held an urgent session on Monday after Zekaj’s death. Lawmakers set up a parliamentary investigative committee. The panel will examine possible institutional responsibility in the case. Prime Minister Albin Kurti also criticised the response system. Kurti blamed a systemic chain of failures among bodies handling security and justice.

Kurti linked the killing to earlier warnings that were not addressed. \"A murder preceded by such warnings that went unanswered could hardly have ended any other way,\" Kurti told a government session on Wednesday. \"And that makes the situation even more unforgivable.\" The comments added political pressure on agencies involved in protection and prosecution.

Kosovo violence against women laws and enforcement gaps

Kosovo has adopted laws and rules meant to curb violence against women. Penalties include life sentences for murder. However, activists said enforcement often varies and lacks coordination. They pointed to weak alignment among police, social services, prosecutors and courts. One organiser, the Kosovo Women’s Network, said the case showed a breakdown across institutions.

In a statement, the Kosovo Women’s Network said institutions must act together when help is sought. Activists also said similar problems appear across the Balkans. They described the region as strongly patriarchal, with male dominance rooted in tradition. They said the issue worsened after the 1990s wars and later political and economic crises.

Government data showed the scale of reported abuse in Kosovo. The Justice Ministry said police received 2,815 domestic violence reports in 2025. Kosovo’s population is about 2 million. Life sentences for killing partners became available in 2012. Since then, three men have received life terms for killing their partners.

The Pristina protest ended with renewed calls for consistent protection and faster institutional action. Organisers said Zekaj’s case showed what can happen when warnings are missed. Officials now face investigations in Parliament and continued criticism from activists. Protesters said the aim was accountability across police, courts and social services, not isolated steps.

With inputs from PTI