Opinion PCK

Këshilli i Mediave të Shkruara të Kosovës Press Counci¬l of Kosovo Savet za štampu Kosova
20 December 2012, Prishtinë
Ref:05.11.2012\140-2012
Opinion of the Press Council of Kosovo on the Complaint of Sarah Maliqi from the Civil Rights Defenders, against the “Telegrafi.com” portal.
In its meeting held on 19 December 2012, following the review of the complaint of Sarah Maliqi from the Civil Rights Defenders against the “Telegrafi.com” portal, in relation to an Article and video of the TV Top Chanel entitled “LGBT Parade in Serbia”: Support from the Albanian activists” and the readers’ comments on this article, published on 07 October 2012,the Press Council of Kosovo issued the following:
OPINION
– To uphold the complaint
REASONING
Following the review of the complaint of Sarah Maliqi from the Civil Rights Defenders against the “Telegrafi.com” portal in relation to an Article and video of the TV Top Chanel entitled “LGBT Parade in Serbia”: Support from the Albanian activists” and the readers’ comments on this article, that was published on 7 October 2012, the Press Council of Kosovo found that the readers’ comments presented in this portal contain hate speech, insult and incitement to treat individuals or groups with prejudice based on gender and incitement to use denigrating expressions with the purpose of harming or threatening respective individuals or groups of different gender or sexual orientation, which represents a violation of Article 3 under 2a and 2b of the Press Code of Kosovo (Incitement and Hate Speech).
Press Council of Kosovo finds that the portals should not publish articles or comments that incite or cause direct or indirect discrimination based on gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation etc.
Based on the factual situation established above the Board of the Press Council of Kosovo decided as outlined in the enactment clause of the present Opinion.