The Special Court has denied former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi’s request to attend his father’s funeral, sparking outrage among Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans.
The Organization of KLA War Veterans condemned the decision, calling it an “unjust, inhumane, and unacceptable ruling.” In a statement, the organization expressed deep indignation, arguing that preventing Thaçi from paying his last respects to his father violates fundamental human rights and universal humanitarian values.
“This decision is not just a blatant violation of basic human rights, but also an act that contradicts the principles of justice and human dignity,” the statement read. “Denying a son the right to bid farewell to his father is a painful act that wounds the deepest human emotions.”
The organization further accused the Special Court of deliberately humiliating and degrading Thaçi and other former KLA members, alleging that the ruling is an act of retaliation due to the lack of evidence against UÇK leaders.
Calling for international intervention, the veterans’ association urged human rights organizations, Kosovo and Albanian institutions, and political actors to strongly react against what they describe as a fundamental rights violation.
The KLA veterans’ group also warned that it will not remain silent in the face of what it sees as continued mistreatment of former fighters by the Hague-based Special Court.
