Sister Missionaries Beaten In Kosovo

[BCSpace]

Two LDS missionaries were beaten in Kosovo, allegedly by two ethnic Albanians suspected in a terrorist plot.

 

"We can confirm two sister missionaries were beaten in Kosovo and have been moved out of the area," said church spokesman Cody Craynor.

 

"Gratefully, they are making a full recovery."

 

Their accused assailants also are suspected of planning an attack on an unidentified target with four other suspects, allegedly inspired by extreme Islamist ideology, said a senior Kosovo police official. The six men were arrested Nov. 5, two days after the missionaries were attacked in Pristina.

 

A seventh suspect accused in the terror plot remains at large.

 

Authorities have grown increasingly worried about the rise of extremism in a country with a strong presence of NATO peacekeepers, including hundreds of U.S. troops. Authorities had followed the alleged terrorist cell for three months after intercepting a call allegedly plotting an attack with another person of Kosovo descent in an unnamed European country, said the police official, who is part of a team that deals with terrorist threats.

 

Four of the suspects were arrested in a park in Pristina by undercover police agents posing as weapons dealers, the police official said. Another suspect was arrested in central Pristina and the sixth in the eastern town of Gnjilane. It was unclear whether a target had been identified and what the weapons were being bought for.

 

A sniper rifle, handguns and material for making an improvised explosive device were found in suspects’ houses, according to the police official.

A justice official said the suspects had been watched by video surveillance, phone tapping, and email monitoring, but gave no further details because of the ongoing investigation. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

 

Though the country of 2 million is overwhelmingly secular, ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and neighboring Macedonia have been linked with terror plots in the United States, including a foiled bombing last year in Tampa, Fla., and a 2007 attack on military personnel at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

 

Around 150 ethnic Albanians are believed to have joined foreign fighters battling the forces of Syria’s President Bashar Assad and some 12 are believed to have been killed there.

 

The arrest warrant seen by the Associated Press said the 7 individuals — identified as Genc Selimi, Nuredin Sylejmani, Valon Shala, Adrian Mehmeti, Musli Hyseni, Bekim Mulalli and Fidan Demolli — are suspected of "preparing a terrorist act against the safety and constitutional order" in Kosovo.

 

The six will be detained for a month as the prosecution gathers evidence to bring formal charges. On Tuesday local media said police and justice officials received an email threatening to launch "painful attacks" on police if they do not release the suspects.

A defense attorney for Sylejmani said his client denied all charges. It was not immediately clear who represents the other suspects.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

 

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57125799-78/police-kosovo-suspects-official.html.csp

 

Given the recent history of that place, I would not have thought it safe to send missionaries of any kind there.  However, I suppose it's been good up til now.  Does anyone know when missionaries went back in after the 1990's civil war?

[Veles]

Given the recent history of that place, I would not have thought it safe to send missionaries of any kind there.  However, I suppose it's been good up til now.  ...

 

Definitely, missionary work in Kosovo is a very bad idea! Think there isn't a place more hostile to "american based" churches than Kosovo...

[cdowis]

It could have been much, much worse.

 

This area is well known where there is alot of forced prostitution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_Kosovo

[Tacenda]

It could have been much, much worse.

This area is well known where there is alot of forced prostitution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_Kosovo

Thinking of the movie "Taken".

[Avatar4321]

im surprised there were sisters in kosovo. elders i could see. Some areas arent as safe for the sisters.

 

Im glad everything is alright.

[Tacenda]

I think the missionaries should not only get trained in language, if necessary. Or how to teach by the spirit, with scriptures etc. But get trained in self defense, even in places like Utah! There are probably many cases that aren't on the news. Hopefully something like this takes place. Maybe it already does.

[Buzzard]

From what I have heard, they were targeted more for being American than for being LDS. Their attackers were part of a group wanting to carry out terrorist attacks against non-Muslims.

[BCSpace]

Well, you know we LDS have a scriptural tradition of missionaries going into dangerous places.  I think it's obvious that while the Church is reasonably careful, they will take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.  To establish the Church in Muslim areas in countries where that is possible will help to open things up in the future in countries where it currently isn't possible or at least give those people a chance to hear when they migrate.

[Scott Lloyd]

Because of what they represent, or what they are perceived to represent, our missionaries are apt to encounter hostility most anywhere they go.

In Sweden, I was spat on on one occasion and threatened with assault on another. At neither time was there any provocation on my part. I never even approached or spoke to the assailants.

I was never physically harmed, though.

[thesometimesaint]

Well, you know we LDS have a scriptural tradition of missionaries going into dangerous places.  I think it's obvious that while the Church is reasonably careful, they will take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.  To establish the Church in Muslim areas in countries where that is possible will help to open things up in the future in countries where it currently isn't possible or at least give those people a chance to hear when they migrate.

 

We don't target Muslims for proselytizing in Muslim areas of countries. We also don't convert Muslims whom have a reasonable chance of going to, or returning to countries that will persecute them.

[cdowis]

An incident in Saudi Arabia:

 

There are LDS who regularly meet, but with a great deal of discretion.  One day someone created a member directory, and when the government found out about it, there was serious trouble.  We have to be VERY careful

[BCSpace]

We don't target Muslims for proselytizing in Muslim areas of countries. We also don't convert Muslims whom have a reasonable chance of going to, or returning to countries that will persecute them.

 

Sure we do.  By proximity at the very least.

[The Nehor]

I was stoned twice and physically beaten once. My companion ran after the first surprise punch knocked me down. Companionship unity weakened.

[strappinglad]

I was stoned twice and physically beaten once. My companion ran after the first surprise punch knocked me down. Companionship unity weakened.

Mary Jane sometimes has that effect. If that companion were mine, there would have been some ' laying on of hands' that night.

[The Nehor]

Mary Jane sometimes has that effect. If that companion were mine, there would have been some ' laying on of hands' that night.

 

He wasn't worth it. Under the "raised bar" I like to think he would never have made it into the Mission Field.

[bluebell]

We don't target Muslims for proselytizing in Muslim areas of countries. We also don't convert Muslims whom have a reasonable chance of going to, or returning to countries that will persecute them.

 

That's how it was when I served for sure.  I served in Northern California, which had a large population of Muslims from Indian, and we weren't allowed to proselyte to them at all.

[Tacenda]

That's how it was when I served for sure.  I served in Northern California, which had a large population of Muslims from Indian, and we weren't allowed to proselyte to them at all.

My son served in Northern California also.  Actually areas around Oakland.  He and his companion were nearly arrested when a swat team came to a home they were visiting at.  He had several scary moments. 

[Calm]

He had several scary moments. 

But such great stories to share with other missionaries who were probably jealous (and eventually with his kids).

[Avatar4321]

I was stoned twice and physically beaten once. My companion ran after the first surprise punch knocked me down. Companionship unity weakened.

 

We were chased by a mob of protesters once. Thankfully we were close to the car so I dont know how violent they might have gotten.

[The Nehor]

My son served in Northern California also.  Actually areas around Oakland.  He and his companion were nearly arrested when a swat team came to a home they were visiting at.  He had several scary moments. 

 

The fun does not have to end when you get home. I went out with the missionaries today and ran into a violent domestic dispute.

[Tacenda]

But such great stories to share with other missionaries who were probably jealous (and eventually with his kids).

True. I left out that he was hit by a slower moving car. And his Tongan companion had anger issues and pelted him, because my son had asked for the cell phone that his companion had been using under a blanket, weird-- but my son did get away and hang out at K-mart. The mission president kept him with this time bomb for two more weeks! I didn't know about it until after his mission. But probably nothing compared to some experiences the missionaries went through in the Philippines recently.

[firepatch36]

My dad worked in Kosovo and was there on Sept 11. The Kosovars held a big pro-American rally right afterwards. I'm shocked that missionaries are there, but I wouldn't take one incident and assume it's typical.

[Calm]

This is much nicer to hear about.

[BCSpace]

Interesting. I now have a relative called to that same mission, the Adriatic South.  On top of that, he received his call only two weeks after turning in his papers.