Kosovo to become first Muslim-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage

Kosovo to become first Muslim-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage

Kosovo aims to become the first Muslim-majority country to legalise same-sex unions, and the second in the EU-aspiring Western Balkans region. / Julie Rose via Pixabay

By Valentina Dimitrievska in Skopje April 29, 2024

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced his government plans to legalise same-sex marriages in May, as part of the country’s efforts to join the Council of Europe (CoE).

If the plan goes ahead, Kosovo would become the first Muslim-majority country to legalise same-sex unions, and the second in the EU-aspiring Western Balkans region.

"Kosovo will make an effort to soon become the second country in the Western Balkans, after Montenegro, which guarantees its citizens the right to a same-sex life partnership. We will work hard to pass this in the near future," Kurti was cited by Klix.ba as saying in the German parliament.

In addition, Kurti said that his government also work to meet the rights and needs of minority ethnic communities, including the Serbian minority.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) recommended on April 16 that Kosovo be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe, contingent upon its commitment to fulfill an extensive list of obligations as part of its accession.

Serbia, which still sees Kosovo as part of its territory, opposes the idea of Kosovo joining the CoE.

In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, following a bloody conflict in 1998-99. Despite engaging in EU-mediated normalisation dialogue, both countries have made limited progress in resolving their differences.

#Kosovo #LGBT #humanrights #CouncilofEurope #gaymarriage

Read in IntelliNews Pro

Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Content

Watchdog warns Western Balkan banks are conduits for money laundering

Congratulatory words for Trump mask fears of destabilisation in Western Balkans

Fears a Trump comeback could empower Balkan nationalists

Watchdog warns Western Balkan banks are conduits for money laundering

Congratulatory words for Trump mask fears of destabilisation in Western Balkans

Fears a Trump comeback could empower Balkan nationalists

News

Iraq population more than doubles to 45.4mn since 1997 census

Iraq's population stands at 45.4mn people, according to preliminary results from its first comprehensive national census in over three decades, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced on November 25.

Czech real estate tycoon hives off assets after Cypriot court ruling

Two convicted Czech fraudsters claim Radovan Vitek swindled them out of their secret investment in his Frankfurt-listed CPI Property Group.

Iran's Khamenei calls for death sentence for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called for a death sentence for Netanyahu for his "war crimes" in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the arrest warrant recently issued by the International Court of Justice is not enough.

Czechia won’t pursue prolonging EU exemption on Russian oil imports ban

But neighbouring Hungary and Slovakia, which have made less effort to diversify their oil supplies, want exemption to be prolonged.

Obscure far-right candidate Georgescu takes shock lead in Romanian presidential election first round

Far-right, pro-Russian Calin Georgescu beat established candidates after successful TikTok campaign.

Iraq population more than doubles to 45.4mn since 1997 census

Czech real estate tycoon hives off assets after Cypriot court ruling

Iran's Khamenei calls for death sentence for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu

Czechia won’t pursue prolonging EU exemption on Russian oil imports ban

Obscure far-right candidate Georgescu takes shock lead in Romanian presidential election first round

Dismiss

Chat with usLiveChat