Only a short time after returning to their home in Zvecan for the first time in 28 years, the Berisha family has been confronted with what they describe as a suspected arson attack.
On Sunday evening, part of their house was damaged by fire. The incident was revealed by Zana Berisha, who shared the news on social media. She said that fortunately only part of the home was affected, as the family is not yet living there full-time while renovation work continues.
“Last night, they tried to burn our entire house down. Fortunately, a large part of the house was saved. This happened because we are not here 24 hours a day. But this means nothing to us as a family. On the contrary, it only strengthens our conviction that we are on the right path. We are free, we have the support of our state’s institutions, and we will continue,” she wrote.
Despite the attack, the family says it will not be intimidated. They remain determined to complete the renovation and permanently return to the home from which they were forced to flee during the 1998–1999 Kosovo war.
Their return has attracted significant public attention through Zana Berisha’s TikTok account (Zana e Zvecanit), where she documents the family’s daily efforts to restore their home. Her videos show the condition of the house after nearly three decades, the extensive cleanup, and the ongoing renovation process, offering a powerful testimony of resilience and the determination to reclaim what was unjustly taken from them.
Incidents like this fuel fears that extremist individuals or organized groups continue to use intimidation and violence in an attempt to discourage returnees from reclaiming their rightful property.
Kosovo’s law enforcement authorities should investigate this case thoroughly, identify those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice. Equally important, the Berisha family must be provided with the security necessary to live peacefully and safely in their own home. No family should have to fear violence simply for exercising their fundamental right to return to property they were forced to abandon nearly three decades ago.
