De-Radicalization: Legal and Policy Framework in Kosovo

Abstract

Kosovo’s legal and policy framework in addressing the threat of violent extremism reflects its approach consisting of punitive and integrative aspects. Even though exisiting legislation does not make any direct references to the concept of (de)radicalization, looking into provisions regarding fundamental rights and protections as well as criminalization or related acts of terrorism enables a better understanding of how those are currently being applied in Kosovo. It is important to note that the policy approach and - by extension - the resulting legislation has narrowly focused on addressing religious-based extremism and involved a number of changes in legislation to respond to foreign fighter travel to Syria and Iraq. This implies that Kosovo's current legal and policy framework does not seem to correspond with a more comprehensive conceptualization of violent extremism along the ideological spectrum...