USA: 10 Kosovo Albanians in Syrian detention centers for supporting ISIS

Ten Kosovo Albanians are currently held in detention centers in Syria for supporting the Islamic State, while the whereabouts of 70 others remain unknown, and it is uncertain whether they are alive, according to the U.S. State Department's 2023 report on global terrorism, as reported by Reporteri.

According to the report, 121 individuals have been repatriated to Kosovo from Syria, and 12 of them were arrested upon return for their involvement in that country.

It is noted that Kosovo citizens remain susceptible to recruitment by violent religious organizations.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria in 2011, it is estimated that around 350 Kosovo citizens traveled to Syria and Iraq, mainly to fight alongside the extremist group, the Islamic State (IS).
Those who have returned to Kosovo are facing legal proceedings.

However, the report highlights that while Kosovo's legislative framework provides for the prosecution of individuals suspected of supporting terrorist activities or participating in foreign wars, the penalties for committing terrorist acts are lenient, including bail, early release, and disorganized post-release supervision.

In 2015, Kosovo adopted a special law penalizing participation in foreign wars, while its Criminal Code prescribes sentences for committing terrorist acts ranging from five years to life imprisonment.

Officials from Kosovo's Correctional Service stated that, following judicial processes, about 42 individuals convicted for participation in foreign wars have passed through correctional facilities. Currently, seven individuals remain in these institutions.

The report also mentions that, as of May 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States deployed a counterterrorism advisor covering the region of Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.

It was noted that FBI agents attended counterterrorism task force meetings and provided advice during investigations.

Additionally, it is highlighted that the Government of Kosovo worked constructively with the United States and the international community in combating terrorism in 2023 and approved a long-awaited strategy and action plan to combat and prevent terrorism for the period 2023–2028.