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

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