The largest Albanian political party in North Macedonia, the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), has called for the immediate resignation of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Astrit Iseni, and the Deputy Minister for Sports, Safije Sadiki Shaini, for failing to react to fascist slogans chanted during the basketball game between North Macedonia and Romania in Kumanovo.
During the match, the crowd chanted “A good Albanian is a dead Albanian” and “Gas chambers for Albanians,” in the presence of senior state officials, including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Kumanovo Mayor Maksim Dimitrievski.
“BDI condemns this incident, describing it as a shocking display of ethnic hatred and criticising the silence of institutions and the lack of reaction from the Basketball Federation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Government of North Macedonia,” stated Emir Sulejmani, a member of the Central Presidency.
“We will not allow Albanians to become the target of fascist chants in the country where they are co-founders of the state,” Sulejmani declared. He also warned that BDI will lead the political and civic response until justice is ensured and the perpetrators are punished.
Sulejmani called on Albanian representatives in the North Macedonian Government to publicly distance themselves from the incident, demand strong sanctions, and withdraw from a Government that tolerates hate.
