Ridvan Haqifi (1990 – 8 February 2017), also known by the nom de guerre Abu Muqatil al-Kosovo, was a Kosovo Albanian Islamic State (IS) leader and recruiter of ethnic Albanian jihadi foreign fighters fighting in Syria and in Iraq.[1] He was born in Bukovik, Gjilan, Kosovo.[2] He was a close associate with fellow Kosovo Albanian Lavdrim Muhaxheri.[3] Both Haqifi and Muhaxheri were proteges of radical Kosovar Imam Zekerija Qazimi,[4] who was found guilty and jailed for ten years in May 2016.[5] Haqifi stood beside Muhaxheri and other ethnic Albanian mujahideen in the ISIS propaganda film in which they called Albanians to join their fight and then burnt their passports. His two brothers (one named Irfan Haqifi) also fought in Syria.[3] He was killed on 8 February 2017.[6]
Between 4 and 16 November 2016, eighteen Kosovo Albanians and one Macedonian Albanian were arrested suspected of planning terrorist attacks in Kosovo and Albania. They were coordinated by Muhaxheri and Haqifi. According to the prosecution, the terrorist group planned attacks on international and state institutions, ultimately with the intent to establish an Islamic state. They planned to attack the Israeli football team during a match in Albania. Media reports state that Kosovo government institutions, albeit contradictory as they are Islamist jihadis themselves, and Serbian Orthodox Church sites were potential targets.[7]
References
edit- ^ Schwartz, Stephen (30 June 2015). "Kosovo vs. Iranians and ISIS". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ "Profil: Kush është kosovari i ISIS'it që po kërcënon shqiptarët dhe Ballkanin". Gazeta Express. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Ko je bio Ridvan Haqifi i kako je završio kao militant "Islamske države"?". info-ks. Prizren. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ American Foreign Policy Council (18 December 2017). The World Almanac of Islamism 2017. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 573. ISBN 978-1-4422-7345-0.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Leposhtica, Labinot (20 May 2016). "Kosovo Jails Hard-line Imam for 10 Years". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Vritet komandanti i shqiptarëve të ISIS-it, Ridvan Haqifi". Telegrafi. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ Morina, Die (18 November 2016). "Lavdrim Muhaxheri, ISIS Warrior, Remains Threat to Kosovo". Balkan Insight. BIRN. Retrieved 24 November 2019.