Why Albania's vicious cycle of blood feuds persists | Focus on Europe

Key Concepts:

• Blood Feud (Gjakmarrja): A cycle of retaliatory killings between families, rooted in the Kanun.
• Kanun: A code of medieval laws followed in northern Albania, often prioritized over state law.
• Missionary (Mediator): Individuals who work to negotiate peace and reconciliation between families involved in blood feuds.
• Isolation: Confinement to one's home as a form of penance and self-protection from blood feuds.
• Reconciliation: The process of achieving forgiveness and ending a blood feud.

Rome Hosai's Predicament:

• Rome Hosai is trapped in his house due to a blood feud initiated after his sons killed a man to restore family honor.
• The victim's family has the right to kill Rome according to the Kanun until a peace agreement is reached.
• Rome is in complete isolation and poverty, relying on the help of missionaries and villagers for survival.
• The death threat extends to all male members of his family, restricting their movement and activities.
• Rome feels abandoned by the state, which has not offered any assistance in the last six months.

The Role of Missionaries:

• Bib Vatnikai is a missionary working to mediate peace between Rome's family and the victim's family.
• Missionaries are organized nationwide, with Gin Maru as their chairman.
• They negotiate with the victim's family to exempt members from the blood feud. In Rome's case, they managed to have 12 cousins and their families exempted.
• Missionaries work on a voluntary basis, driven by a sense of honor and duty.
• Adam Isui, a 92-year-old local legend, is part of a clan dedicated to peacemaking for generations.

The Kanun and its Implications:

• The Kanun is a medieval code of laws that regulates life in northern Albania, particularly in areas with poor governance.
• It covers various aspects of life, including education and administration.
• The Kanun relies on blood feuds as a form of justice, which conflicts with Albania's modern legal code.
• Lawyer Kim Ibra emphasizes that the practice of the Kanun is unacceptable for a country aiming to join the European Union.
• Supporters of the Kanun argue that it offers reconciliation, unlike modern law which focuses on punishment.
• Mitta is considered the cradle of the Kanun, where it was first codified in the 1400s.

The Process of Reconciliation:

• The first step in resolving a blood feud is to free people from isolation.
• Forgiveness in a blood feud is a complex and lengthy process.
• It requires significant effort to make the injured party feel ready to forgive the blood that's been shed.
• Some blood feuds can drag on for decades, highlighting the difficulty of achieving reconciliation.

Notable Quotes:

• Rome Hosai: "If no one helps you, you'll die of hunger. Being locked up is like being buried alive. If you don't work, you have nothing to eat. Without an income, you can't survive. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It's very, very bad."
• Rome Hosai: "The state is responsible for punishment but not for solving these problems. Not one representative of the state has been here in the last 6 months to ask if we need anything. Only the missionaries and villagers have helped us with food."
• Kim Ibra: "If we want to establish the rule of law and become part of the European Union, which has its own standards and norms, then it's unacceptable for a medieval law like the canoe to still be practiced in a country in the middle of Europe."

Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Blood Feud (Gjakmarrja): A traditional practice of retaliatory killings between families to avenge a death or perceived wrong.
• Kanun: A comprehensive set of customary laws that govern various aspects of life in northern Albania, including social conduct, property rights, and dispute resolution.
• Missionary (Mediator): Individuals who dedicate themselves to resolving conflicts and promoting peace, particularly in the context of blood feuds.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Rome Hosai's situation exemplifies the ongoing conflict between traditional customs and modern law in northern Albania. The Kanun, with its emphasis on blood feuds, continues to exert a powerful influence, trapping individuals and families in cycles of violence and isolation. Missionaries play a crucial role in mediating peace and providing support to those affected by blood feuds, filling a void left by the state. While the Kanun is seen by some as a means of maintaining order and offering reconciliation, it is also viewed as an obstacle to establishing the rule of law and integrating into the European Union. The resolution of blood feuds requires a complex and lengthy process of negotiation and forgiveness, highlighting the deep-seated cultural and social factors at play.