Nine Wahhabi Thugs Arrested in Kosova

by Jeton Musliu
Express [Kosova]
January 14, 2009

http://www.islamicpluralism.org/913/nine-wahhabi-thugs-arrested-in-kosova

The Center for Islamic Pluralism calls on all its associates and supporters around the world to protest to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and to the European Union Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), demanding full protection of moderate Muslims in the Kosova Republic against Wahhabi aggression.

Protests should be sent by e-mail to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected], with copies to [email protected].

Wahhabis trying to capture Islamic Community of Kosova

Mullah Osman Musliu, an official of the Islamic Community of Kosova (ICK) believes that the people who beat him up are known "Wahhabis". He says they want to take control of the ICK. Following this event in Zabel, a village of the Drenas district, the police arrested nine persons. The daily Express discloses their names.

Nine persons have been arrested as suspects in a violent assault on mullah Osman Musliu in the district of Drenas, which occurred last Friday [January 9, 2009]. Police said that two other victims also suffered beatings: Bashkim Ibrahimi from the village of Zabel i Ulët and a third person.

Four people arrested by police will be held for thirty days as the investigation of this incident continues; five more will be held for the same number of days in house arrest.

Two of the main suspects in the assault on mullah Osman in the Zabel village mosque, when he arrived for a local imam installation, are from the same village; the other two come from two other villages.

The oldest of these four, aged 30, is from Llapushnik village, while the youngest, who is only 23 years old, is from Zabel i Ulët.

The names of the people held in jail because of the assault are: Sefedin Gashi (born 1979) from the village of Llapushnik, Rrustem Bublaku (born 1984) and Nderim Bublaku (born 1985) from Zabel i Ulët and Shefqet Krasniqi (born 1982) from the village of Gllobar.

The names of those held in house arrest for 30 days are: Zekë Bublaku (born 1949) from Zabel i Ulët, Veli Hajrizi (born 1945) from Shtrubullovë, Arsim Kastrati (born 1986) from the village of Nekovc, Shpejtim Shala (born 1979) from the village of Cikatovë e Re and Nuhi Thaci (born 1965) from Llapushnik.

Police officers explained to Express that judging from the clothes that two of the four held in jail were wearing when arrested, and otherwise because of their appearance, they belong to the "Wahhabi" sect.

"They had the usual beards and short pants, which distinguished them from others," said a police officer directly involved in the investigation of this case.

Contacted by Express, mullah Osman Musliu said he is convinced that the assault on him was organized by "Wahhabis."

"I am a mullah and I know about them, I recognize them," said Musliu, explaining that he will not be intimidated despite the beating.

"They can kill me, but I will not be intimidated. Their goal is simple. They want to take over the Islamic Community of Kosova," mullah Osman told Express.

As on previous occasions, the Islamic Community of Kosova reacted against this new incident only with a declaration that deemed it as a shameful act, but without taking any further measures.

ICK has asked the public security organs to make sure that these incidents do not happen again, although only a few weeks ago a high official of the supreme Muslim institution in Kosova was attacked in the garden of his own house.

Professor Xhabir Hamiti suffered wounds in his face and head after being beaten in the garden of his house, and like mullah Osman, when interviewed by Express newspaper, Hamiti blamed "Wahhabis" for the assault. According to him, also, these groups want to take control of ICK.

Mullah Osman Musliu is the chairman of ICK for the district of Drenas and had traveled to the local mosque in Zabel for installation of an imam for the community of believers.

However, the presentation of the new imam was prevented by the intervention of people in the crowd. The altercation soon turned violent and mullah Osman thinks that everything was well organized for an assault on him.

Zabel villagers said they have nothing against mullah Osman and that the persons who provoked the incident are not from that village.

[Translation by Center for Islamic Pluralism]

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