WORCESTER — District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj announced she will temporarily attend City Council and Standing Committee meetings virtually after receiving threats against her and her family, including some of a sexual nature.
Haxhiaj, who shared the news in a statement on social media, said she has reported the threats to authorities and expressed gratitude for their responsiveness. She also informed the City Council chair of her decision to participate in meetings remotely.
“Given previous acts of vandalism and non-stop harassment these last few years, I take my safety as a woman, mother, and immigrant very seriously,” Haxhiaj wrote. “My and my family’s safety come first and my work serving District 5 residents continues uninterrupted.”
Haxhiaj, one of the more progressive members of the City Council, has been outspoken on issues including pedestrian safety and immigrant rights. She was first elected to represent District 5 in 2021, becoming the first Albanian-born and the first Muslim American to serve on the council.
A Worcester Police Department spokesperson confirmed that the threats are under investigation, the Telegram & Gazette reported.
Haxhiaj has previously faced public criticism and alleged harassment. In January, she called for a third-party investigation after claiming that another councilor had made statements questioning her “refugee story.”
She has also stood in support of the LGBTQ+ community, backing Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen, the council’s nonbinary member, who announced a hiatus last month, citing “transphobia and discriminatory and toxic council culture.”
Despite the threats, Haxhiaj reaffirmed her commitment to serving her district. “I remain steadfast in my solidarity with all communities under attack,” she wrote.
