The German journalist of "Frankurter Algemeine Zeitung", Michael Martens, has again brought back the issue of the Civil Code in Kosovo and the statement of Prime Minister Albin Kurti during his stay in Germany regarding same-sex marriages.
Martens in a published article says that, however, it is uncertain whether Kurti will be able to make his announcement in Berlin come true since the vote on the Civil Code in the Assembly of Kosovo had failed in 2022 as well.
The German journalist mentions that regarding the Civil Code, and therefore the issue of same-sex marriages, the members of the Vetëvendosje Movement are divided, while he also mentions the objections of religious communities.
“Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced on a recent visit to Berlin that his country intends to offer its citizens the right to same-sex civil unions ‘in the very near future.’ If this happens, it will have significance beyond Kosovo, the Balkans and Europe.
Kosovo would be the first - and may be for a long time the only - country with a majority Muslim population, in which same-sex couples could have their relationships recognized by law, with all the rights that come with it: inheritance law, taxes, patient,. rights, social security, etc.," writes Martens.
He further says that the definition of Kosovo as a "Muslim country" is unclear and may even be misleading, since according to its Constitution, Kosovo is a secular state and that the reality in Kosovo corresponds to this definition.
"However, it is uncertain whether Kurti will be able to make his announcement come true. He tried once before - and failed. That was in 2022, when the Kosovo Parliament did not approve a new Civil Code...
It failed because of a single provision, specifically Article 1138, which states: 'Registered civil unions between persons of the same sex are permitted.' The ruling 'Vetëvendosje' party was divided on the issue.
Just before the vote in parliament, the heads of several religious groups formed an unusual alliance to warn politicians, pointing out that while they may not agree on anything else, they do agree on one thing - no rights for gays.
The most prominent contributor to this coalition is Naim Tërnava, leader of the Islamic Community in Kosovo. On the occasion of the April 10 iftar, Mufti Tërnava again warned the government not to establish the right to same-sex partnerships...
I contacted the Islamic Community of Kosovo asking them if they would only stand verbally against Kurti's plans or organize protests and demonstrations, as the Orthodox Church in Greece recently did.
So what now? Will there be a parliamentary majority in a second attempt? Or will the "Islamic wing" of Vetevendosje, as some media call it, vote against it again, with the opposition abstaining?", writes Martens. /Telegraph/
