 Romani in Kosovo according to the estimation of the UN-mission in 2005 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Pristina, Gjakova, Ferizaj, Vushtrri, Kosovo Polje, Mitrovica and Peja | |
| Languages | |
| Balkan Romani, Albanian, Serbian | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Islam |
Romani people in Kosovo (Albanian: Romët në Kosovë) are part of the wider Romani people community, the biggest minority group in Europe. Kosovo Roma speak the Balkan Romani language in most cases, but also the languages that surround them, such as Serbian and Albanian. In 2011 there were 36,694 Romani, Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians living in Kosovo. However, the minorities are unrelated to each other and were only put together based on appearance.
Many Romani were targeted by the Kosovo Liberation Army along with Serbs during the Kosovo War as they were considered to be allied with Serbs and Serbian national interests. Romani in Kosovo are much depleted from their former numbers, and have been in both stationary and nomadic residence there since the 15th century. The Kosovo Liberation Army were reported to have expelled 50,000 Romani from Kosovo, forcing them to take refuge in central Serbia,[1] but many of them have since returned to Kosovo.[2]
- ^ "The Roma community in Serbia : Serbia : Eastern Europe : Where we work : CAFOD". Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
- ^ Roma and the Kosovo conflict