Prilep (Serbian Cyrillic: Прилеп), or Prejlep (Albanian: Prejlepi, other names: Prilep, Përlep, Perlep, Prilip) or Arrnjet (Albanian: Arrnjeti), is a village situated in western Kosovo[a], close to Gjakova.

Prilep
Prilep is located in Kosovo
Prilep
Prilep
Coordinates: 42°30′N 20°19′E / 42.500°N 20.317°E / 42.500; 20.317
Country Kosovo
DistrictGjakova
MunicipalityDeçan
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
2,165
Time zoneUTC+1 (Central European Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Kosovo War

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During the Kosovo War in 1998 the village was nearly completely destroyed. Militants of the Kosovo Liberation Army and Serbian forces fought each other near Prilep on the 2nd August 1998, where two Serbian Policemen were killed and the KLA pushed out of the village. The Serbian paramilitary gained control of the contested road connecting Gjakova and Pejë. Using a multi-barrel anti-aircraft gun mounted on top of an armoured vehicle, the Serbian paramilitary made their way through the devastated village house by house.[2][3] 12 members of the Yugoslav forces and 4 Albanian militants died during the Serbian offensive.[4]

After the village fell in the hands of the Serbian forces, 4 civilians were killed of which 3 were Albanian and 1 was Egyptian.[4] The village mosque that was built in 1686 was also subsequently destroyed.[5][better source needed]

Demographics

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In the 1485 Ottoman defter of the Sanjak of Scutari the village of Prilep is mentioned to have had 28 tax paying households.[6]

In the beginning of the 19th century, there were only about 5 to 10 houses, while today there are over 300.

According to the 2011 census, the resident population was 2,165, of which 2,157 are Albanians, 6 Egyptians and 2 others. The village is inhabited by 2,163 Muslims and 2 others.[1][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ethnic composition of Kosovo 2011". pop-stat.mashke.org.
  2. ^ "KOSOVO: KLA FIGHTERS CLASH WITH SERB PARAMILITARY POLICE | AP Archive". www.aparchive.com. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  3. ^ "KOSOVO: FUNERAL OF SERB POLICEMAN KILLED NEAR VILLAGE OF PRILEP | AP Archive". www.aparchive.com. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  4. ^ a b "List of killed, missing and disappeared 1998-2000". kosovomemorybook.org.
  5. ^ Administratori. "Aktet gjenocidale të pushtetit serb". www.bajgora.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  6. ^ Pulaha, Selami (1974). Defteri i regjistrimit te Sanxhakut te Shkodres i vitit 1485. Tirana: Akademia e Shkencave, Instituti i Historisë. p. 352. The Ottoman defter is not an accurate illustration of the ethnic composition of the village, since ethnicity was not recorded in the defter.
  7. ^ "Religious composition of Kosovo 2011". pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2021-07-04.