“La Gazette de France” published, on Wednesday, October 16, 1912, on the front page, the letter of Edith Durham sent at that time to the English Catholic newspaper “Tablet” to alert about the difficult situation of Christians in the vilayet of Shkodra, which, Aurenc Bebja, through the Blog “Dars (Klos), Mat – Albania”, has brought to the Albanian public.
The Tablet, the leading English Catholic newspaper, published on October 5 the following letter from an English Protestant, Mrs. Edith Durham, who has lived for many years in Turkey:
sir,
A short time ago you published an article by Mrs. Christitch on the Catholics in Turkey. I can assure you, after several years of experience, that the picture she has presented to you of their condition is painted in very rosy colors. Since I am not a Catholic myself, it is not easy for me to contact interested persons who could come to the aid of these unfortunate populations, and therefore I appeal to you. In northern Albania, they are in great danger of being expelled, killed, or forced by the most cruel misfortune to become Mohammedans (Muslims). Their condition was quite difficult before the Turkish revolution (1908). Since then, it has worsened every year. The policy of forced Ottomanization is practiced against the Catholic Albanians, as against all other unfortunate Christian subjects of the Turks.
This pushed the desperate population into revolt. Last summer (1911) they fought bravely against the Turkish forces that surrounded them. Pressure from the Great Powers forced them to accept a treaty, and for the respect of this treaty the powers gave no guarantees.
Moreover, it is not merely the signing of this particular treaty that is necessary to secure peace, for, in every detail of life, Catholics suffer incessant injustice. The gendarmes enter their plantations, seize their fruit, break down trees to make firewood. Complaints for damages are met with ridicule. In a legal case between a Muslim and a Christian, it is very rare for the Muslim to be found liable. On the other hand, Christians are arrested and imprisoned without trial on the most frivolous pretexts. When it comes to collecting taxes, local authorities almost everywhere try to extort from Christians more than their share of the taxed sums.
If all the inhabitants could get weapons, they would have a good chance of winning. But the Great Powers, who do not care about their protection, prevent them by all possible means from buying contraband weapons and, at the same time, give them to the Turks, absorbing huge profits.
I cannot but draw your attention emphatically to the fact that the so-called Christian and civilized states of Europe are now providing funds for the purchase of weapons to be used in this war of extermination. The populations themselves feel this very deeply and accuse the powers that be of being now more barbaric than the Turks. With its rifles, the government thus arms the Muslim population and employs them as bashi-bozouks. And, at the same time, the possession of weapons is forbidden to Christians.
To prove to you that the term “barbarians” is not too strong, I want to give you some details of recent events. In the vilayet of Shkodra there is a village, Reimeli (Hajmelit). In the plain around Zadrima there are scattered villages, some Christian, others Mohammedan (Muslim). Throughout the past winter, the Christians were attacked by their armed neighbors and, as far as they could, they bought weapons for their personal protection. Recently the population of Reimeli (Hajmelit) was terrorized and prevented from working in their fields. The governor of Shkodra and the commander, Ali Effendi, assured these people that there was no danger and that they could continue their work peacefully.
Two days later, on the night of September 5, Ali Effendi arrived with 1000 soldiers and a large number of bashibozukas. They arrested 50 villagers in their homes and tied their hands. They sent 35 of them to the nearest garrison under military escort. Word of this unprovoked and treacherous attack spread, and a group of Christians from Zadrima, who were in possession of weapons, decided to try to rescue their neighbors. Hearing their shots, the Turks massacred 15 of the bound prisoners, gouged out their eyes, cut off their legs, and cracked the skulls of 4 of them; they seriously injured a large number of others and killed several elderly people in their beds. Then, having finished their bloody deed, the Turks left. The bishop (priest) of this diocese, who was in the area, testified to the truth of all these details; The doctor did the same. One of the killed was the priest’s servant.
On the other hand, on September 2, 50 soldiers and some officers came to the Christian village of Blinisht and asked for food and shelter. The village headman received them in his house, slaughtered two rams and a cow and cooked especially for them. The next day they were told that, in his capacity as chief (headman), he was to accompany them for part of the journey. As soon as they left this village, they seized this man without mistrust, tied him up, took him to Shkodra and put him in prison, without any trial or charge. On September 7, they evacuated his body and it was found that he had received four bayonet blows under the left eye and in the left arm and that his head was completely bruised. The body was in a state of decomposition. Not only had he been killed in prison, but it seems that the authorities then kept the body until it was in such a state that they believed that he would later be buried without being examined.
The Christians of Zadrima have fled their village many times and the headman (Mudir) announces that he will replace them with imported Muslims. The policy of importing Muslims into Catholic districts and creating villages for them is spreading rapidly.
Sir, there are brave Catholic missionaries who are ready to investigate the horrors of Putumayo. I believe that among your readers there will be found an English priest who will come and investigate the state of the vilayet of Shkodra. (It is reached by steamers of the Austrian Lloyd from Trieste, and this vilayet should not be confused with the Shkodra of Constantinople.) Whoever undertakes this journey must be able to speak Italian, for it is the only language of Western Europe spoken by the archbishops, bishops, and priests, who, almost without exception, are all Albanians.
I pray, on behalf of humanity, that this call will be heard and that someone, or rather, several, will come and see. I have tried to do my best, but I cannot work alone.
(S.) Mrs. Edith Durham,
Grand Hotel, Cetinje (Montenegro).
September 22, 1912.