Bosniaks in Kosovo

Bosniaks of Kosovo
Bošnjaci Kosova
	Bosniaks in Kosovo by settlements according to the 2011 census
Total population
	27,553 (1.6%) (2011 census)
Regions with significant populations
	Prizren · Dragaš · Peja · Istok
Languages
	Bosnian
Religion
	Predominantly Sunni Islam
Related ethnic groups
	Gorani, other South Slavs

Bosniaks are a Slavic Muslim ethnic group living in Kosovo, numbering 27,553 according to the 2011 census. Because this census was boycotted by most Kosovo Serbs,^[1] leaving the Serb population underrepresented,^[2] Bosniaks were recorded as being the second-largest ethnic group in Kosovo, after the Kosovo Albanians. The vast majority of Bosniaks are adherents of Sunni Islam.

Demographics[]

The 2011 census states the number of Bosniaks in Kosovo are 27,553, with around 21,000 of them living in the municipalities of Prizren and Dragaš.^[3] Bosniaks make up 1.6% of the whole population.

History[]

The ethnonym "Bosniak" in Kosovo is used by several distinct Slavic Muslim groups which came to form the Bosniaks of Kosovo. It was adopted by these groups as a collective identifier largely after 1999. Some Slavic-speaking Muslims identify interchangeably or exclusively as Gorani.^[4] A part settled in Kosovo during the Ottoman era and after its fall. They include Slavic-speaking Muslims from Bosnia, Montenegro and Sandžak in particular. The majority of them settled in Peja, Istok and Mitrovica.^[5] Another includes Slavic Muslims who already resided in Southern Kosovo in the areas around Prizren, Gora and Zupa.^[4]^[5]

Politics[]

There are several Bosniak political parties in Kosovo and the oldest one is Bosniak Party of Democratic Action of Kosovo (Bošnjačka stranka demokratske akcije Kosova).

Current Status[]

Following the end of the Kosovo War, Bosniaks faced ongoing discrimination by Albanians who associated them with Serbs. Between 1999 and 2001, 80 Bosniaks went missing, were killed or injured. Bosniaks encounter high unemployment and poor education in Kosovo due to a lack of schools conducting studies in the Bosnian language.^[6] The return of Bosniaks who escaped Kosovo during the Kosovo War has been a slow process. Many are instead opting to sell their homes to leave for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Western Europe.^[7]

Notable people[]

Duda Balje, politician
Emilija Redžepi, politician
Adrijana Hodžić, politician

References[]

^ Petrit Collaku (29 March 2011). "Kosovo Census to Start Without the North". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
^ Perparim Isufi (14 September 2017). "Kosovo Police Stop 'Illegal' Serb Census Attempts". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
^ "BIRN". Birn.eu.com. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
^ ^a ^b Baldwin, Clive (2006). "Minority Rights in Kosovo under International RuleBy Cli" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ ^a ^b "Community Profile: Bosniak Community" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Bami, Xhorxhina (2020). "Kosovo's Bosniaks, Struggling to Survive Between Albanians and Serbs". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
^ UNHCR.Update on the Kosovo Roma, Ashkaelia, Egyptian, Serb, Bosniak, Gorani and Albanian communities in a minority situation, Unhcr.org, Retrieved 2012-09-12

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[1] Petrit Collaku (29 March 2011). "Kosovo Census to Start Without the North". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 17 December 2017.

[2] Perparim Isufi (14 September 2017). "Kosovo Police Stop 'Illegal' Serb Census Attempts". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 17 December 2017.

[3] "BIRN". Birn.eu.com. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2012-09-12.

[Baldwin-4] Baldwin, Clive (2006). "Minority Rights in Kosovo under International RuleBy Cli" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[ECMIK-5] "Community Profile: Bosniak Community" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[6] Bami, Xhorxhina (2020). "Kosovo's Bosniaks, Struggling to Survive Between Albanians and Serbs". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 16 October 2021.

[7] UNHCR.Update on the Kosovo Roma, Ashkaelia, Egyptian, Serb, Bosniak, Gorani and Albanian communities in a minority situation, Unhcr.org, Retrieved 2012-09-12

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v t Ethnic groups in Kosovo¹
Constituent nations: Albanians Serbs
Minorities: Bosniaks Gorani Croats Jews Montenegrins Roma (Ashkali & Egyptians) Turks
¹ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Serbia continues to claim it as a part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognised as an independent state by 97 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 112 UN member states have recognised Kosovo at some point, of which 15 states later withdrew their recognition.