In November 2009, a statue honouring President Bill Clinton was unveiled in Pristina, Kosovo, Europe's newest nation. However, the question arises as to why an American president would be associated with Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim nation.
Following the Ottoman empire’s collapse and the subsequent Serb control of its former territories, Kosovo – a nation of 90% ethnic Albanians endured ethnic cleansing and discrimination from the early 1900s to the 1990s. From failed attempts to eradicate the Albanian language to political isolation and executions.
Journeying through post-war Kosovo in cities like Pristina, Prizren, Peja, and Mitrovica, I witnessed the impacts of Tito and his Serb dominated communist federation of Yugoslavia (1945-2000s). Under the pretext of modernizing the outdated Ottoman architecture, sacred buildings like the Arasta Mosque in Prizren were demolished. A post office and market now occupy its site. Only the solitary minaret remains, standing alone amidst the mountains. This is just one instance of many Ottoman mosques and bazaars, rich with centuries of vibrant Islamic culture, that endured demolition, destruction, and abandonment. They are the lost mosques of Yugoslavia.
However, the 1998-1999 Kosovan war, the final instalment of the wider Yugoslav wars, saw this practice escalated. Having watched Serb aggression against Bosnians and Croats in 1995, The Kosovan liberation Army (KLA) began their struggle for independence. In response, Serb police burnt entire villages and occasionally shot fleeing non-combatants. Over a million were displaced as both sides used questionable tactics in their liberation struggle. According to the UNHCR, 70,000 homes were reported destroyed.
Serb police planted explosives in mosques and detonated them. Tank barrels targeted minarets, reducing them to bricks. In all, 225 out of 600 mosques in Kosovo were damaged or destroyed from 1998-1999. I visited the “Xhamia e Kuqe” (Red Mosque) which was previously levelled by Serb forces. Today it has been rebuilt by the kindness of the UAE. I was also surprised to have stumbled across mosques donated by the Italian government and even Harvard.
Despite the U.S labelling the KLA as “Terrorists”, they were quick to aide their cause. Both Blair and Clinton – two names synonymously linked with Iraq’s destruction, advocated for an illegal NATO bombing campaign over Serbia. NATO clearly had selfish intentions at play. Directly challenging Serbia (Russia’s ally), meant challenging Russian influence in Eastern Europe, enabling NATO to expand into the post-Soviet space. Today, Kosovo hosts NATO's second-largest base, with NATO troops stationed throughout populated cities.
NATO’s unorganized bombing mission killed hundreds, including Kosovan Albanians caught in the crossfire. In the short term, it exacerbated the war and pushed Serb police to double down on their “counter insurgency operations”. However, a local informed me that had NATO not bombed Slobodan Milosevic into submission – Kosovo would never have gained independence. His claim retains some truth as in 2008 Kosovo declared independence.
“Tonibler” and “Bilclinton” became popular names for streets, buildings and even children. The most bizarre thing I could ever imagine laying my eyes upon was a bronze statue of Bill Clinton. I would also stumble across streets named “NATO” and “General Wesley Clark” (U.S NATO commander). It all seems a bit cheesy, innocent and overdone, yet it’s indicative of how desperate of a situation Kosovo was in. Visiting Post-war Kosovo felt like one unusual fever dream in which, for once, the Americans were the “good guys”. Yet in the words of my friend: “I hope America can be the America that Kosovo sees them as”.
Regardless of NATO’s selfish ulterior motives, let us remember the fallen innocents of this war. Let us remember the lost gardens of heaven that were turned to dust. Those heavenly gardens which now whisper the adhan in solemn silence. Those gardens that shall eternally bear witness against the oppressors until the day of ultimate Judgment. And yet, those heavenly gardens that shall forever cherish the names of those who graced their presence. I pray the Almighty preserves His beacons of light, our spiritual homes – our mosques.
Despite the U.S labelling the KLA as “Terrorists”, they were quick to aide their cause. Both Blair and Clinton – two names synonymously linked with Iraq’s destruction, advocated for an illegal NATO bombing campaign over Serbia. NATO clearly had selfish intentions at play. Directly challenging Serbia (Russia’s ally), meant challenging Russian influence in Eastern Europe, enabling NATO to expand into the post-Soviet space. Today, Kosovo hosts NATO's second-largest base, with NATO troops stationed throughout populated cities.
I captured a rare moment where NATO troops explored a local mosque in the locality of Prizren
NATO’s unorganized bombing mission killed hundreds, including Kosovan Albanians caught in the crossfire. In the short term, it exacerbated the war and pushed Serb police to double down on their “counter insurgency operations”. However, a local informed me that had NATO not bombed Slobodan Milosevic into submission – Kosovo would never have gained independence. His claim retains some truth as in 2008 Kosovo declared independence.
“Tonibler” and “Bilclinton” became popular names for streets, buildings and even children. The most bizarre thing I could ever imagine laying my eyes upon was a bronze statue of Bill Clinton. I would also stumble across streets named “NATO” and “General Wesley Clark” (U.S NATO commander). It all seems a bit cheesy, innocent and overdone, yet it’s indicative of how desperate of a situation Kosovo was in. Visiting Post-war Kosovo felt like one unusual fever dream in which, for once, the Americans were the “good guys”. Yet in the words of my friend: “I hope America can be the America that Kosovo sees them as”.
Regardless of NATO’s selfish ulterior motives, let us remember the fallen innocents of this war. Let us remember the lost gardens of heaven that were turned to dust. Those heavenly gardens which now whisper the praise of God in solemn silence. Those gardens that shall eternally bear witness against the oppressors until the day of ultimate justice. And yet, those heavenly gardens that shall forever cherish the names of those who graced their presence. May God preserve His beacons of light, our spiritual homes – our mosques.
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