Albanians in Kosovo endured more than 666 centuries of political imprisonment under the former Yugoslavia.
In total, Albanians spent 666 centuries, 72 years and 7 months in political imprisonment during that period, according to the book “Albanian Political Prisoners in Kosovo 1945–1990” by author Sabile Keçmezi-Basha.
The book was published in 2009 by the publishing house Logos-A in Skopje, Pristina and Tirana. It examines the period of Kosovo’s occupation by Serbia and the former Yugoslavia, focusing primarily on Albanian political prisoners.
In an interview with KosovaPress, the author, Sabile Keçmezi-Basha, stated that between 1945 and 1990, a total of 9,220 Albanians were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for political reasons, receiving combined sentences amounting to 66,672 years and 7 months.
Keçmezi-Basha explained that the average prison sentence was 7 years and 1 month. During the same period, 1,346 Albanian soldiers were also sentenced, 63 of whom were killed inside military barracks.
“Albanians were a majority only in prisons. From 1945 to 1990, more than 7,684 + 1,536 individuals were sentenced to lengthy imprisonment, receiving a total of more than 66,672 years and 7 months. Converted into centuries, this means that under the brutal Yugoslav regime, Albanians spent 666 centuries, 72 years and 7 months behind bars.
According to the analysis of the data, the average prison sentence imposed on Albanians for ‘political criminal offences’ was 7 years and 1 month. If this average sentence is multiplied by the 3,348 individuals convicted between 1981 and 1990, it amounts to approximately 23,770.8 years of imprisonment during that period alone,” Keçmezi-Basha stated.
The author further revealed that in 1981 alone, five courts organized more than 36 political trials, in which over 297 Albanians were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1.6 to 15 years.
Meanwhile, according to her research, between March 1981 and October 1989, Serbian police interrogated and subjected more than 580,000 Albanians to various forms of violence, ranging from threats to beatings that caused loss of consciousness.
“During 1981 alone, according to press reports, particularly after March 11, district courts across Kosovo, including those in Pristina, Gjilan, Peja, Prizren and Mitrovica, organized more than 36 political trials, sentencing over 297 individuals to lengthy prison terms ranging from 1.6 to 15 years. Between March 1981 and October 1989, Serbian police dealt with 584,373 Albanians,” she added.
The 600-page book is based on extensive research involving archival sources, scientific literature, historical publications and documentary evidence. Former Albanian political prisoners also contributed to the research by sharing their personal testimonies and experiences with the author.
The publication attracted considerable public interest, with all copies available in bookstores selling out within just one month of its release.
“In addition to archival sources, the research also relied on scientific, historical and documentary literature, which helped supplement, compare and contextualize the collected data. A particularly valuable contribution to this study came from the former Albanian political prisoners themselves, whose willingness to cooperate, personal testimonies and available documentation helped enrich the research’s source material,” Keçmezi-Basha emphasized.
Although nearly two decades have passed since its publication, the author says that public interest in the book remains strong.
“Even today, almost two decades after its publication, interest in this work continues. This is evident through the ongoing requests from readers who contact me seeking information and exploring the possibility of obtaining a copy of the book,” concluded author Sabile Keçmezi-Basha.
Numerous television programs and documentaries, in addition to books, have also been dedicated to Albanian political prisoners.
