In brief
In Kosovo, Christian converts from Islam are leading a revival movement to reconnect with their pre-Islamic history, aiming to establish a distinct European identity and counteract rising religious extremism.
In the modest village of Llapushnik, Kosovo is witnessing a unique phenomenon—the resurgence of the Christian faith in a predominantly Muslim country. At a recent mass baptism in a hilltop church, a Catholic priest celebrated the return of several dozen individuals, many of whom had previously identified as Muslim. This event is just one of many in what is being termed the “return movement,” spearheaded by a group of ethnic Albanian converts who advocate for a resurrection of pre-Islamic values as a way to reinforce their identity and combat potential religious extremism linked to the influence from the Middle East. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is marked by its Muslim majority—93% according to a recent census—while only a small fraction, 1.75%, identify as Roman Catholic. The significance of this movement is rooted in the region's history, where the arrival of Islam followed centuries of Catholicism under Ottoman rule. As these Christian activists seek to redefine their cultural landscape, they hope their growing congregation and renewed faith will foster a more cohesive European identity while steering their community away from radical influences.
