This article was published on September 7, 2019, and is titled “Kosovo faces the challenge of reintegrating the families of ISIS fighters”. Family members of returned children from Syria and Iraq, governmental officials, and the psychologist dealing with the cases of returned children were interviewed for the purpose of this article. The purpose of this investigation was to tackle the ills related to violent extremism. As portrayed in the article, the result of joining terrorist organizations, it is not only the radicalized that face challenges but rather a chain of individuals, which mostly includes their family members. This article is related to the four children of Qamile, who was shot dead by a sniper while part of foreign fights.

Qamile had 4 children, 2 with Besim [died in 2014 in foreign fights] and 2 with Skender [ISIS fighter]. The two children she had with Besim are now living with their uncle, Zenel, in Mitrovica, and the two other children she had with Skender are living with their grandparents in Ferizaj.

Skender’s father expressed his feelings regarding the separation of kids by declaring “it was a difficult moment seeing them separated from one another. They were lost kids and found by someone incidentally. They were scared, without parents, without documents. I will never forget their cries”. From the interviews with family members, key challenges these families are going through is their lack of funds. Mensur Hoti, an official from the security sector of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said for BIRN that the government of Kosovo has a strategic plan for the integration of returnees and it comprises of all relevant institutions, including civil societies and Kosovo Islamic Council. Regarding the re-integration of children returned, Sanije Mehmet, Islamic female preacher claimed that “re-integrating these children will be difficult, given that some were raised and even born under ISIS regulations”.

Kosova përballet me sfidën e riintegrimit të familjeve të luftëtarëve të ISIS