Content is published with the caption that claims that former EULEX prosecutor Maria Bamieh had stated that Judge Charles Smith had told her: "Albanians are animals that need to be tamed."
This content has been published on several Facebook pages and accounts and in several media outlets (see here, here, here, here, here and here).
What's wrong with the content?
The content attributes the statement "Albanians are animals that need to be tamed" to former EULEX prosecutor Maria Bamieh, claiming that Judge Charles Smith told her.
The claim has been distributed to a significant number of publishers and has also been mentioned in television studios (see here).
First, hibrid.info searched through the search engine "Google" with the words "maria bameh" (see here). The search results showed articles stating that Maria Bamieh is a British lawyer and former international prosecutor, who worked in Kosovo first with UNMIK and then with EULEX. She was engaged as a EULEX prosecutor from 2008 until 2014, when her contract was not renewed (see here and here).
Bamieh came to public attention in 2014 after raising allegations of corruption and possible interference in the work of EULEX. She alleged that while investigating a corruption case, she had uncovered communications suggesting attempts to influence her investigation and interfere in a court case. She reported her concerns to her superiors, and later went public with these allegations (see here).
While the same search for Charles Smith, indicated that he is currently a judge in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and had served as a EULEX judge in Kosovo from 2010 to 2013, while during 2011–2013 he was a member of the Supreme Court of Kosovo. He also chaired the EULEX Assembly of Judges as Vice-President and President (see here).
This confirms the engagement of both in EULEX during a period that partially overlaps.
But has Maria Bameh filed claims against Charles Smith?
Search A Google search for these two names did not show any articles from credible media reporting on the former EULEX prosecutor's allegations against Judge Charles Smith.
Where did the claim for the statement "Albanians are animals that need to be tamed" come from?
Tall kerkimit on "Google" for this claim, an article published in 2019 in the online medium "Telegrafi.com”, with the title “EULEX judge accuses his colleague of racism – Albanians are animals that need to be tamed".
The article reports allegations by former EULEX judge Malcolm Simons of political interference and pressure on the mission's judges and prosecutors. He alleges that judges and prosecutors who were considered more pliable were selected for high-profile cases and that there was interference in judicial processes.
In relation to the “Drenica” case, Simons alleges that Judge Dario Sielicki made derogatory comments towards the defendants and Albanians, including referring to them as “animals that needed to be tamed.” The article also addresses Simons’ allegations of irregularities in the selection of the trial panel and the relationship between Sielicki and Judge Anna Adamska.
What was actually alleged about Judge Charles Smith?
In one ITEM published in the media "Nacionale", entitled "Document | The judge who sentenced 81 years in prison to KLA leaders was involved in several scandals at EULEX, and also sought political punishments", which was encountered in search additional, writes that according to the allegations of former EULEX judge Malcolm Simmons, Charles Smith was involved in interference in judicial processes during his time of service in EULEX. Simmons alleged that Smith, through an email from 2013, had requested that the “Kleçka” case be set for trial as soon as possible, citing that part of the reasons for this were political.
Simmons later claimed that, when he was assigned to the trial panel, Smith told him that the mission was banking heavily on the outcome of the case and expected convictions. He also claimed that his position could be jeopardized if the defendants were found not guilty.
Simmons also accused Smith of interfering in another criminal case, alleging that he had communicated with a judge and suggested imposing a prison sentence. Simmons said he had also reported these concerns to the British Embassy in Kosovo.
However, these reports do not make the connection between Charles Smith and the statement "Albanians are animals that need to be tamed."
Analyze
The claim that former EULEX prosecutor Maria Bamieh stated that Judge Charles Smith told her, "Albanians are animals that need to be tamed," is unsupported.
Hibrid.info has searched for this claim in reliable sources, including searches under the names “Maria Bamieh” and “Charles Smith.” These searches have not resulted in credible reports documenting that Bamieh made such a statement about Smith.
Meanwhile, a search for the statement “Albanians are animals that need to be tamed” has yielded previous reports in which this statement is attributed, through the claims of former EULEX judge Malcolm Simmons, to judge Dario Sielicki, in the context of the “Drenica” case. Simmons’ claims about Charles Smith relate to alleged interference in judicial processes, including the “Kleçka” case.
Based on the working methodology, hibrid.info assesses the claim in question as "Manipulation of facts".
rationale
“Factual manipulation” is a rating given to informational content that uses facts known to be accurate but interprets them in a distorted manner. These reports typically use accurate information to draw incorrect conclusions or claims, thereby misleading consumers of media content about the actual meaning of the facts presented.