August 3, 2025 – Pristina — Former Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, has strongly condemned the anti-Albanian chants heard during a basketball game in Kumanovo, North Macedonia, where fans reportedly shouted “Death to Albanians” and “Gas chambers for Albanians.”
In a Facebook post, Hoxhaj described the slogans as “fascist and racist,” calling them a direct violation of democratic values and interethnic coexistence.
“This rhetoric crosses every red line of democratic norms and peaceful coexistence,” Hoxhaj wrote, warning that such hate speech undermines the fragile social fabric of North Macedonia.
He further emphasized that Albanians are a state-forming people, playing a critical and constructive role in North Macedonia’s stability and European path.
“No one has the right to play with the dignity of a people who are peace-builders, state-builders, and essential partners in the Euro-Atlantic future of the region,” Hoxhaj declared.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among Albanian communities, prompting calls for accountability and stronger measures against hate speech in sports and public life.
