History of Censorship in Albania
The history of censorship in Albania reflects a tumultuous journey through various governance structures that systematically suppressed political opinion and cultural expression. Under Ottoman and Greek rule, Albanian voices were marginalized until the late 19th century when efforts to promote the Albanian language emerged, including the establishment of the Society of Albanian Letters in 1879. Following Albania's independence in 1912, King Zog's regime (1925-1939) imposed strict censorship, dissolving opposing organizations and limiting press freedom. The situation worsened under the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha from 1944 to 1961, where state control over all cultural activities and publishing was enforced, leading to severe repercussions for dissenters and the banning of religion.
After Hoxha's death in 1985, some restrictions began to ease, culminating in the adoption of a democratic constitution in 1991, which allowed for greater press freedoms. However, remnants of censorship persisted, as seen in the trials of journalists and ongoing government influence over media outlets. Today, while freedom of speech is legally protected in Albania, challenges remain with self-censorship and government pressures affecting independent media. Organizations like Freedom House classify Albania as "partly free," indicating ongoing concerns about the integrity of press freedom.
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History of Censorship in Albania
Description: Balkan nation bounded by Greece, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, and the Adriatic Sea
Significance: Albania has a long history of government censorship under a succession of authoritarian regimes
Albanian political opinion and cultural expression was systematically suppressed under Ottoman and Greek rule. In 1879 the Society of Albanian letters was organized, an alphabet adopted, and book and newspaper publication followed, mostly in foreign countries. In the autumn of 1885 the Porte authorized teaching Albanian, a reform largely frustrated in Muslim and Orthodox schools.
From its independence in 1912 Albania was in constant turmoil until 1925, when the government of Achmet Zogu, later King Zog, took control. Zog dissolved opposing political and cultural organizations and either imprisoned active opponents or drove them into exile. Press freedom was curtailed and private correspondence was censored. In 1939 Italy annexed Albania, which remained under Italian and, briefly, German, control until 1944.
From 1944 to 1961 Albania was ruled by the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia. All publishing, broadcasting, schools, and cultural enterprises were in the hands of the state. Rigid censorship extending to private conversations was enforced by the secret police (Sigurimi). Citizens conversing with foreigners were subject to arrest and imprisonment.
In 1974 the communists began denouncing families possessing television antennae capable of receiving Italian or Yugoslavian broadcasts. Thousands of political opponents, dissidents and members of ethnic minorities died in concentration camps. Foreign travel was stringently restricted. Ordinary Albanians who had left the country were denied return. Works of authors falling from governmental acceptance were collected and destroyed, including works in technical journal articles. In 1967 religion was banned, almost all places of worship were closed, and clergy were imprisoned, executed, or “retrained.” In spite of this, Ismail Kadare wrote and published novels of a quality making him a serious candidate for the Nobel Prize. By using metaphor and ironic flattery, Kadare avoided total suppression, but was heavily attacked for ignoring stylistic “Socialist Realism.”
The dictatorship began to relax after Hoxha’s death in 1985. In 1990 his successor, Ramiz Alia, ended the bans on religion and foreign travel and a new, democratic constitution was adopted. In March, 1991, Alia was forced to hold elections, which he won. By September, 1991, eight newspapers representing as many political parties appeared and the circulation of Zeri i Popullit, the Communist (later Socialist) Party paper, dropped by two thirds. Continuing protests and demonstrations forced another election in early 1992, resulting in a democratic regime under Sali Berisha.
Artistic style was no longer censored; by 1994 a gallery devoted to contemporary Tirana artists and writers opened. Official censorship, however, remained. The new constitution made those who “insult the high personalities of state” subject to imprisonment, and an October, 1994, referendum rejected a more liberal constitution. In 1994 the British Broadcasting Corporation lost access to a medium-wave transmitter, had FM service threatened, and had correspondents harassed by SHIK (or, secret police) agents for coverage of a corruption trial. Also, Aleksander Frangaj, the editor of Koha Jone, was tried, but acquitted, for publishing official secrets. One of his staff received an eighteen-month jail sentence and the judge was arrested. An appeals court gave Frangaj a five-month sentence. Frangaj fled to Greece. During late 1993 and 1994, twenty-two critics of the regime, former communist officials and Greek minority leaders, were imprisoned.
In the twenty-first century, freedom of speech and of the press are legally guaranteed in Albania, but in practice the government holds a strong influence over many media outlets, and truly independent media face pressure from tax authorities and a lack of government sponsorship in a country that is already struggling economically. This fosters a culture of self-censorship in Albanian news media. Albania has been classified as "partly free" by Freedom House's Freedom of the Press report, and Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index states that it has "noticeable problems."
Bibliography
Dunham, Jennifer, Bret Nelson, and Elen Aghekyan. Freedom of the Press 2015: Harsh Laws and Violence Drive Global Decline. Washington, DC: Freedom House, 2015. PDF file.
Godole, Jonila. "The Decline of Independent Albanian Media." European Journalism Observatory. EJO, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Jones, Derek, ed. Censorship: A World Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2015. Print.