 | The Dark Code - Trailer This trailer presents the first 10 minutes of the CRTN - documentary "The Dark Code." Production Date: 2005 Duration: 28 Copyright : CRTN Language: English, German, French, Spanish, Czech Executive Producer: Mark Riedemann Director: Agnes Dzieduszycka A man without honour is as good as dead. (Paragraph 600) // Honour once lost cannot be bought, except for blood or regained except by means of a magnanimous forgiveness arranged by arbiters. (Paragraph 598) These texts derive from the Albanian Canon - a comprehensive chronicle of laws that governs everything from land cultivation to the honour of women. From managing livestock to how men should dress (always armed with a gun). Developed during the Turkish invasion and the consequent implemen-tation of the Ottoman laws, Albanians had no court, government or a state, to which to seek recourse and the Canon became the means through which to understand and seek justice. The most patent manifestation of the Canon relates to vendettas blood for blood regarded as obligatory when insulted or attacked. The repercussion for a family that does not pursue it is a loss of the familys dignity and self-respect. This 28-minute documentary considers the issue of the Canon, its relationship to revenge, women and children, and the revival of the Canon in regions of modern day Albania. |
 | DukagjinKanun #9 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf but also in the south and in the central parts of Albania for example, in the capital Tirana there are 144 such families, in Durrës 98, in Vlora 111, in Malsija-eMadhe 67, in Berat 62, in Fier 49, in Korça 15, in Pogradec 6, in Tepelena 16, in Gjirokastër 9, in Librazd 4, in Lushnjë 33, in Elbasan 29. The enumerated towns have traditionally been outside the zones of influence of the Code of Lek Dukagjin. Why is it that the geography of vendetta has spread to include now the countrys central and southern parts too? This is a consequence of the migration from northern to central Albania of part of the rural population living in a state of vendetta, confined within their homes, is the opinion expressed by Neritan Ceka, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Order |
 | DukagjinKanun #1 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf International Centre for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations (IMIR) THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO Tanya Mangalakova 2004 Sofia 1303, 55, Antim I St., tel: (+3592) 8323112; fax: 9310-583; e-mail: minority@imir-bg.org; http://www.imir-bg.org 2 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO Tanya Mangalakova During one of the fieldwork expeditions carried out in Macedonia in the autumn of 2002, the team came across the Macedonian edition of the Kanun of Lek Dukagjin amidst piles of books on Islam at the "Donika" bookshop in the town of Tetovo. On noticing the team members joy and excitement, a young Albanian was so pleased to find out we were familiar with the Kanun that he presented us with two copies. This |
 | DukagjinKanun #8 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf that lived restricted within their homes, but in the period 2000-2002 some of them were reconciled and their number has consequently fallen. Greatest is the number of families in blood feuds in Shkodër 400, which is easy to explain, since the Codes historical tradition is most powerful in this major city of Northern Albania. According to the local press, they are as many as 600. The Institute for Democratisation and Mediation functioning in Shkodër estimates the number of feuding families to be 250. In some other towns in Northern Albania the figures are as follows: 81 in Tropojë, 11 in Krujë, 18 in Lezhë, 49 in Kukës, 13 in Puk, 28 in Has, 12 in Kurbin, 48 in Burel, 17 in Bulchiza. There are families victims of vendetta and living isolated, without ever leaving their houses, not only in the north, |
 | DukagjinKanun #33 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf the Code of Zuli is only familiar to the people living in Vlora or the central part of Kurveleshi. It is unknown in Saranda and the regions southern part. There is no blood revenge tradition among the Kurveleshi, they settle their disputes by civil law. While travelling the interminable roads of Southern Albania on our way from Saranda to Korça through Gjirokastër, Tepelena, and Prmit, none of the people whom we inquired had ever heard of the mysterious Code of Zuli. In all probability, it has already been erased from the collective memory. The Kurveleshi the Malësori of Southern Albania And so, in October 2003 we set out from Vlora on our way to Saranda following on the track of the mysterious Code of Zuli. We were to cross the Lungara Mountains first. The road was in deplorable condition; the car could simply |
 | DukagjinKanun #59 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf The Kanun and murdering leaders In early January 2003, killed in Pec were three ethnic Albanians, members of the disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and functionaries of the Democratic Union of Kosovo (DUK) a party led by Ibrahim Rugova, the President of Kosovo. One of the victims was T. Z, prosecutors witness in the much talked about court case against Daut Haradinaj and another four Albanians, also members of the disbanded KLA. Observers commented this was account settling between followers of the Rugova party and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo the party of former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj, brother of Daut. Some time earlier there had been a bomb attack against Adem Zekaj, another former KLA member. According to one of the versions, it was a matter of interpersonal |
 | DukagjinKanun #43 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf Albanie: Le Kanun ou lEurope? Shekulli, 10.02.2003, Le Courrier des Balkans, www.balkans.eu.org/article2275.html. 19 Burimi, G. Albanie: Le Kanun ou lEurope? Shekulli, 10.02.2003, Le Courrier des Balkans, www.balkans.eu.org/article2275.html. 9 16 10 is lack of confidence in the possibility of their problems being solved by legal means. The fact that MPs and ministers are engaged in conciliation shows that they, too, accept the Kanun", says D. Ch., Member of Parliament from Krujë and conciliator. In his opinion, the Code and the official jurisdiction will exist side by side until the time comes when people will begin to trust the law in full. At present, it is only by means of the Kanun that, for example, disputes over land involving murders |
 | DukagjinKanun #5 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf "Blood is never lost", states the Kanun2. The perpetrator is entitled to ask through the agency of a mediator a well-respected member of the community, for a besa a vow that no one would hurt him. Those who have not taken revenge, fall into social disgrace. At public gatherings they are served coffee or brandy in cups and glasses with a bullet put inside, in order to be urged to avenge the injury. The Code does not allow the murdering of women or children. The only place where blood should not be shed is the house of the marked victim. Because of the ruthlessness of blood feud, most of the houses in Northern Albania look like fortresses built of stone, with small apertures serving as windows. Even to date many Albanians shut themselves inside their houses where they remain isolated for life in order to |
 | DukagjinKanun #48 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf against Serbia who had spent 28 years in a Serbian prison. "We made peace unconditionally, for the sake of unification, liberation, and the future. Reconciling is more difficult now, because theres no more threat to [ones] life and future. They have to be persuaded as people, neighbours, brothers, mothers-in-law, in the name of, lets say, our dignity as a nation, and the besa which we have kept as a heritage from our ancestors", reported M. H., participant in the pre-war conciliation movement. Albania: blood feud forces municipal official to flee country, say colleagues. AP, January 29th 2003, http://news.serbianunity.net/bydate/2003/January_29/0.html. 21 Burimi, G. Albanie: Le Kanun ou lEurope? Shekulli, 10.02.2003, Le Courrier des Balkans, www.balkans.eu.org/article2275.html. |
 | DukagjinKanun #54 THE KANUN IN PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO http://www.imir-bg.org/imir/reports/The_Kanun.pdf the conciliators travelling and living expenses. M. H. gave also the names of other men acting as conciliators. Most of them are professors 23 Bytyci F. Blood Feuds revive in Unstable Kosovo. IWPR, 19.02.2004, http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/bcr3/bcr3_200402_481_4_eng.txt. 24 Канонот на Лек Дукагини. ФИ & ГА, Тетово, 1994, с. 170. 11 12 and intellectuals K. R. from Drenica, who lives in Dragodan, Pristina, a conciliator, whose role has been handed down to him by his ancestors; Professor M. R. from Drenica who now lives in Pristina; Dr. M. P.; Dr. Z. A. a historian; Professor T. G.; Professor J. K. from Prizren. The Besa as a Final Institution Reconciliation may last as short as an hour, it may continue all night through, or go on for days and months on end. Each side has to state its arguments. The first |
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