Dozens of citizens marched on Monday afternoon in the center of Kosovo's capital, Pristina, calling for the assurance of safety for girls and women following the murder of a 21-year-old woman in the city of Ferizaj just days ago.
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| Citizens march demanding safety for women and girls, after the murder of a 21-year-old woman in Ferizaj days ago, Pristina, April 15, 2024 |
The 21-year-old woman was killed on April 12th inside the office of the Social Welfare Center in the southeastern city of Ferizaj, while her 15-year-old brother was also injured.
A 36-year-old, believed to be the ex-husband of the victim, has been arrested and detained by authorities as the suspect in the murder.
In the march organized by the Collective for Thought and Feminist Action, protesters held banners with slogans such as "Safety for Girls and Women," "Our enemy is patriarchy," "Even our whispers are lost."
They called for security for girls and women as they marched from "Zahir Pajaziti" Square to the Kosovo Government building, where they protested.
In a media statement on Saturday, the Basic Court in Ferizaj stated that the suspect had previously cohabited with the victim, and there is a suspicion based on evidence that "he consciously committed the murder in the afternoon hours of April 12th."
The firearm has been confiscated by the Kosovo Police.
High-ranking state officials have strongly condemned the murder and called for justice.
Around 56 women have been killed in Kosovo in the last 13 years.