Tirana / Immediate Protection Order Requested for Same-Sex Family Following Posts by Pastor Akil Pano

TIRANA, May 27, 2026– Edlira Mara and Alba Ahmetaj, mothers of 5-year-old twin daughters, filed an urgent request for a Protection Order today with the Tirana Police and Court. Their criminal complaint is directed against Pastor Akil Pano and his son, Jonathan Pano, who are accused of “technology-facilitated violence” and public incitement of hatred through social media platforms.

According to the complaint, which is based on Law No. 11/2026, Facebook statuses published by the father and son on May 23 and 25 sparked a massive wave of threatening comments from their followers. The mothers state that they feel endangered, their daily lives have been paralyzed, and they have not left their home for two days, while their children are not attending kindergarten out of fear of potential attacks.

In their request, they demand the immediate deletion of the posts, a ban on mentioning their names or publishing their photos on social media, and the enforcement of a physical distance from their residence and the children’s kindergarten.

Concerns Raised Over Continuous Persecution

Beyond this recent incident, the case has brought attention to a broader concern regarding the family’s safety.

This is not viewed as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a targeted campaign of persecution spanning several years, dating back to the birth of their children in 2021.

According to the concerns raised, the individuals named in the lawsuit have built a continuous platform of hatred targeting the family, which included hosting podcasts and mobilizing protests during the couple’s wedding. This legal denunciation is considered a vital precedent for protecting LGBTQ+ families from intentional public denigration campaigns./Historia Ime