On 4 December 1991, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Adem Demaçi, recognizing him as a tireless fighter for freedom of thought and a defender of human rights.
Accepting the award as a tribute to the people of Kosovo, Demaçi stated:
“Freedom of speech is the first and decisive step toward democracy. Without freedom of speech, there is no dialogue; without dialogue, truth cannot prevail; and without truth, progress is impossible.”
Legacy and Recognition
- The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was established in December 1988 by the European Parliament to honor individuals or organizations devoted to human rights.
- Previous laureates include Andrei Sakharov, Alexander Dubček, Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi, some of whom later received Nobel Prizes.
- Demaçi emphasized that honoring him was a tribute to the Kosovar Albanian people, highlighting their resilience, peacefulness, and pride despite suffering.
Further Honors
- 1993: Special Peace Prize from the University Rectors’ Club in Madrid.
- 1994: Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature and later for the Nobel Peace Prize, acknowledging his efforts for peace and human rights.
- 1995: Received the Oslo University Human Rights Prize, underlining international attention to Kosovo’s plight.
Life and Activism
- Born in Prishtina, 26 February 1936, Demaçi became known early as a vocal critic of the Yugoslav regime.
- In 1963, he founded the Revolutionary Movement for the Union of Albanians, advocating for the liberation and unification of Albanian territories.
- He spent 28 years in prison, much of it in solitary confinement, for his political and national activism.
- Post-release, he led the Council for Human Rights and Freedoms (1990–1995) and served as a political spokesperson for the Kosovo Liberation Army (1998–1999).
- After the war, he continued advocating for the rights of non-Albanian minorities in Kosovo.
- Recognized as a symbol of national resistance, he was awarded the title Hero of Kosovo in 2010.
Literary Contributions
Demaçi authored numerous books, including: Fërkime, Gjarpijtë e gjakut, Libër për Vet Mohimin, Heli e Mimoza, and Pushka dhe Tung vargu im.
He passed away on 26 July 2018, leaving behind a legacy of resistance, human rights advocacy, and literary contribution.
