Pop star Dua Lipa sparks controversy as she tweets map linked to hard-line Albanian nationalists
BRITISH pop star Dua Lipa has sparked controversy after tweeting a map linked to hard-line Albanian nationalists.
The One Kiss singer, 24, posted an image of a map showing Albania, Kosovo and neighbouring counties on a red flag with Albania’s eagle emblem.
She uploaded the image with the word “autochthonous” – meaning the original inhabitants of a county rather than people who have settled there.
The musician was born in London to Kosovar-Albanian parents and has been accused of favouring Albanian expansionism.
Her tweet has suggested Kosovar-Albanians are native to the region – a claim which is generally refuted by Serbs.
'GREATER ALBANIA' MAP
A picture of the same “Greater Albania” map was flown during a 2014 football match between and Serbia and sparked a mass brawl.
Some users have accused Lipa of being a “fascist” and used the hashtag #CancelDuaLipa.
However, others jumped to her defence and US-based organisation Team Albanians said she was “debunking the dangerous far-right claims that Albanians are not indigenous people in the Balkans”.
In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia and became Europe’s youngest country.
Albanians claim they settled in Kosovo before the Serbs and argue it is a country of ethnic Albanians.
MAP ROW
Serbs say Kosovo is part of its territory and nationalists have previously used “Kosovo is part of Serbia” slogans.
Kosovo is now recognised by most European governments and the US, but not by Serbia and Russia.
Her controversial tweet came after a petition appeared online calling for Apple Maps to display Kosovo as an independent country.
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It has now been signed by more than 130,000 people.
British star Rita Ora, who was born in Kosovo, also tweeted in support of it being shown on Apple Maps.
She wrote: "Would love to see Apple spreading awareness by putting Kosovo on the map!
"Albania and Kosovo are full of so much beautiful and great talent."
The Sun Online has contacted Dua's representatives for comment.
