According to a study presented on Monday, Kosovar citizens believe religious institutions to be more trustworthy than state institutions in fighting religious extremism.

The study found that around 57 percent of the respondents believe that the Kosovar government has failed in the campaign against violent extremism and radicalization in Kosovo.

Vesa Kelmendi, one of the researchers at the KCSS said that the citizens think Kosovo lacks an adequate rule of law that would prevent extremism and radicalisation.

“Kosovar citizens think of religious institutions as more trustworthy in preventing extremism than state institutions because a large percentage believes that state institutions have failed in fighting violent extremism and and radicalization,” Kelmendi said.

Aside from the 57 percent of citizens who place their trust primarily in religious institutions, 14 percent trust the government and another 22 percent trust the judiciary.

Executive director of KCSS Florian Qehaja stated that the perspective of citizens  is crucial in preventing extremism in Kosovo, even though, according to him, there is still much to be done.

“We are far from reaching the goals that would prevent extremism. There have to be large-scale investments in culture, education and in raising awareness through different means,” he said.

Besa Ismaili, a professor at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, said that religious institutions have done more in fighting radicalization and extremism in Kosovo than other institutions.

“Where we were not present, there have been disruptions because religious institutions are faster at taking action where other institutions fail to do and where they should,” Ismaili said.

She appealed for religious teachings to be incorporated in school curriculums in order to promote further tolerance in Kosovo.

The study also establishes that the prevalent majority (76 percent) of respondents consider the organisations such as the so called Islamic State (ISIS) and the Al-Nusra Front as very dangerous. On the other hand only eight percent of the respondents see them as moderately dangerous.