Pristina, September 7, 2026 – The Ombudsperson published the Opinion regarding the recognition of religious communities and the regulation of their legal status in the Republic of Kosovo, after reviewing the complaint of the Community of Tariqats of Kosovo regarding the impossibility of separately declaring their religious affiliation in the 2024 Population Census.

The Ombudsperson considers that the impossibility of declaring religious affiliation in the population census form is a consequence of gaps in the current legal framework, which does not provide an effective mechanism for the registration and acquisition of legal personality of religious communities, which continues to create practical and legal consequences not only in the declaration of religious affiliation, but also in the free exercise of the activity of religious communities.

It has also been found that the formulation of the question on religious affiliation in the 2024 Population Census does not fully guarantee the right to religious self-identification and does not fully reflect the religious pluralism in Kosovo. The inclusion of only a few religious communities and the grouping of other communities in the “Other” category limits the institutional visibility of other religious communities and may create unequal treatment.

The Ombudsperson emphasizes that the state has an obligation to maintain neutrality and impartiality in religious matters and to ensure equal treatment for all religious communities, in accordance with the Constitution and international human rights standards.

In this regard, the Ombudsperson requests the Government and the Assembly to take the necessary steps to adopt a comprehensive legal framework for the registration and legal status of religious communities, ensuring objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria, in accordance with the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, the practice of the European Court of Human Rights and the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

Also, public institutions should, in future processes of collecting statistical data and drafting public policies, respect the right to self-identification, equality before the law and the prohibition of discrimination.

The Ombudsperson reiterates that religious pluralism, the autonomy of religious communities and their equal treatment are essential elements of a democratic society and of effective respect for freedom of belief, conscience and religion.

The Opinion in English soon available at www.oik-rks.org