A disturbing incident in the city of Bitola (Manastir) has once again highlighted the deep-rooted ethnic discrimination faced by Albanians in North Macedonia. On Thursday evening, a 32-year-old Swedish citizen, temporarily residing in Dibra, was attacked on “Rruga e Gjerë” by a group of young men, allegedly because he was mistaken for being Albanian.
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| The 4 young men who attacked the Swedish citizen after thinking he was Albanian, and the second from the left holds a T-shirt with the Albanian flag that the 32-year-old Swedish citizen was wearing. |
According to the victim’s statement to police, the assailants, believed to be in their twenties, approached him and tried to forcibly remove his T-shirt, which reportedly bore the image of an eagle – suspected to represent Albanian national symbols. Realizing he could not defend himself, the victim surrendered the shirt to the attackers, who then fled the scene.
The Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia confirmed the case, noting in an official press release:
“On Thursday, around 19:50, at SPB Bitola, S.H.D. (32), a Swedish citizen with temporary residence in Dibra, reported that unknown persons approached him and attempted to remove his shirt with symbols of another state.” Police have opened an investigation and are working to identify the perpetrators.
This is not an isolated case but rather part of a larger pattern of hostility Albanians face in North Macedonia. Although official statistics claim Albanians make up around 25% of the population, independent and unofficial sources suggest that Albanians actually represent nearly 50%. This underreporting has long been criticized as a tool of political and social marginalization, with consequences that reach beyond government institutions and spill into everyday life.
The attack in Bitola underscores how ethnic prejudice manifests in violent and discriminatory behavior. In a multiethnic society where coexistence should be the foundation of peace and progress, such incidents reveal the systemic challenges Albanians continue to face.
Until the Albanian community is fully recognized and treated as an equal part of North Macedonia’s social and political fabric, incidents like this will continue to erode trust and fuel division.