New details have emerged regarding the murder of 49-year-old Arlinda Zekaj in Kosovo, as suspicions of negligence by justice institutions grow. The victim, who was allegedly killed by her brother-in-law, had sought help from some of the highest justice institutions, just days before the crime.
According to the Nacionale newspaper, Arlinda Zekaj had also sent a letter to the president of the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), Rrustem Thaqi, in which she denounced the lack of institutional response to the violence she claimed to be experiencing.
Nacional sources report that the victim had also sent the same letter to the Chief State Prosecutor, Zejnullah Gashi, requesting the intervention of institutions for her protection. In the letters sent, the 49-year-old raised concerns about the way the authorities had handled her complaints.
Gazeta Nacionale has requested clarification from the Kosovo Judicial Council whether the letter was received by the head of the institution and whether any concrete action was taken. However, by the time of publication of the report, the KJC had not responded.
Meanwhile, Kosovo Police have arrested Albert Sylaj, the victim's brother-in-law, in Decan, who is suspected of being the perpetrator of the murder. According to the police report, the arrest was made at around 23:40, following actions taken by the relevant units. Sylaj is suspected of having hit the 49-year-old woman in the head with an axe, causing her death.
Before the tragic event, Arlinda Zekaj had denounced the violence that, according to her, was being exercised by her husband and other family members. She had also addressed the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja, Lumturije Vuçetaj, demanding an investigation into the institutions that she claimed had neglected her case.
In the letter to the chief prosecutor, the victim warned of the danger to her life, writing:
"I hope the day does not come when you and the responsible institutions are forced to account only after my life has been taken."
The murder of Arlinda Zekaj has raised serious questions about the response of Kosovo institutions to reports of domestic violence. Reports of letters sent before the crime raise the need to clarify whether the authorities were aware of the danger and what measures, if any, were taken to protect the victim.
