Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, to demand justice after an 11-year-old girl was kidnapped and gang-raped five men.
The girl was out walking on Saturday Aug. 27 when five people allegedly attacked her in a city park in Arbëria in broad daylight, took her away in a car and sexually assaulted her over a period of seven hours, according to Pristina Insight.
All five suspects have since been arrested. Three of them were minors.
The director of the Kosovo Police resigned on Tuesday over “professional conscience” over the case.
The case ignited outrage, leading to protests.
Holding signs reading “We demand the protection of girls and women” and “educate the boys,” thousands marched through Pristina to call for action for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, condemned it as an “inhuman act” and called for a rigorous investigation and accountability.
She also called for legislative changes to further toughen punishment for rapists.
“We must not allow our country to be unsafe for girls and women,” she said. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all children have a dignified childhood and to eliminate gender-based violence.”
