The Skenderaj/Srbica branch of the Basic Court of Mitrovica on Tuesday sentenced Mustafe Hasani to four months in prison for threatening a BIRN crew while they were reporting on an initiative to build a Catholic church in the village of Kline e Eperme/Gornja Klina in February.

Journalist Adelina Ahmeti and camera operator Jetmir Hoxha from BIRN Kosovo’s Kallxo website were threatened on February 26 by Hasani, who pleaded guilty to the charges. “I am sorry for what happened,” he told the court.

The BIRN crew visited the village to report on a contested proposal to build the church initiated by a local resident, Ndreke Kelmendi, who insisted that a church had previously existed at the location.

But his proposal sparked negative reactions from several other villagers who claimed that the land is privately owned.

Moments after the BIRN crew went to Kelmendi’s house to interview him about the issue, Hasani confronted them for several minutes with insults and threats. “I swear to God that you will be in trouble,” Hasani repeatedly said.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo, AJK condemned the incident, saying that “any attack against journalists is an attack on free speech and democracy”.

The verdict can be appealed.