Since the student protests of 1968, Serbia has constructed and promoted a false narrative, presenting Kosovo as a hotbed of Islamic extremism. This propaganda campaign, manifested in various forms, has been used to delegitimize Kosovo's efforts for self-determination and to create a negative image in the international arena.

The Kosovo Institute for Security and Resilience - Prevent has presented the report "Between Fear and Propaganda - Religious Extremism in Kosovo", analyzing and refuting Serbia's claims to portray Kosovo as a hotbed of Islamic extremism.

“One of the main strategies of Serbian propaganda has been the attempt to label the KLA and its soldiers as Islamic extremists. However, this narrative has been consistently challenged by internationally renowned scholars. In his book Kosovo: War and Revenge, historian Tim Judah describes the KLA as a movement that arose in response to Serbian oppression and the lack of a political solution for Albanians. Similarly, British historian Sir Noel Malcolm has argued in his works that Serbian claims about the KLA’s Islamic connections are unfounded and that its war was motivated by nationalist aspirations for liberation rather than a religious agenda. After Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008 and the subsequent involvement of some Western Balkan citizens in the conflicts of the Middle East, Serbian propaganda against Kosovo has taken on a new dimension. Taking advantage of these developments, Serbian officials have intensified the false narrative to portray Kosovo as a hotbed of Islamic radicalism. The current President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuçiq, has stated on several occasions that "Kosovo is the center of Islamic radicalism in the Balkans" and that "extremists from Kosovo endanger the security of the region and Europe". Ivica Dacic, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, in a speech at the UN in 2018 claimed that "Kosovo has become a base for recruiting Islamic terrorists". Boris Tadic, former president of Serbia, stated in 2010 that "Europe should be careful about what is happening in Kosovo, because there are dangerous tendencies of radicalism", the statement said.

According to the institute, these unfounded claims are part of a long-running disinformation campaign aimed at damaging Kosovo's image and hindering its path to international integration.

“Despite this propaganda, Kosovo remains a country of enduring stability and strong commitment to the fight against all forms of extremism, in close cooperation with international partners. Kosovo has also been positively assessed by the European Commission and the Global Counter-Terrorism Coalition for its commitment to the fight against violent extremism and terrorism. As a reliable partner in the global efforts against ISIS, Kosovo has actively contributed to the disruption of extremist networks and the reintegration of citizens returning from conflict zones. Despite these efforts and clear results, Serbia continues to spread unfounded narratives linking Kosovo to terrorism, with the aim of damaging its position in the international arena. This disinformation strategy has also been supported by Russia and intensified after NATO’s intervention in 1999. At the time, Serbia and Russia attempted to legitimize Serbian violence in Kosovo by comparing it to the war in Chechnya and claiming that Western support for Kosovo would create a “safe haven for Islamic terrorists.” After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Serbia attempted to reframe its war against Albanians as part of the “Global War on Terrorism.” By manipulating the American discourse on terrorism, Serbia sought to justify its ethnic cleansing and violence in Kosovo and Bosnia. Researchers Karmen Erjavec and Zala Volcic have analyzed this strategy, showing that Serbia sought to artificially link its military campaign to global counterterrorism efforts in order to change international perceptions of its actions.

The statement notes that recently, Serbia has exploited the rise of Islamophobic sentiments in Europe to present Kosovo as a threat to Christian values.

"In this context, it has created alliances with European far-right parties, which oppose the recognition and integration of Kosovo into international institutions. However, despite this continuous propaganda, Kosovo has maintained the strong support of its Western allies and has continued to strengthen its position as a state committed to international security and stability. In reality, Kosovo has been one of the most active countries in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism, adopting a Law prohibiting the involvement of its citizens in foreign conflicts and creating the National Strategy against Terrorism and the National Strategy against Violent Extremism. Today, there is another danger, which is being pushed forward through disinformation through media outlets influenced by the Serbian state apparatus, in the face of which danger Kosovo must strengthen its protective mechanisms against disinformation," the statement says.

/Kosovapress/