“From Dom Frano Illia, Mikel Koliqi, Nikoll Troshani and Lec Sahatçia, to Eduart Vata, Mandi Koçi, Ziso Vangjeli, Ali Kaziu, Urim Elezi, etc., who…”/ A rare photo of 25 prisoners of Zejmeni, in ’85

By Kastriot Dervishi

Memorie.al / From the middle of 1985, in Department no. 302 In Zejmen (Lezha district), a large number of condemned old men were imprisoned, who were unable to support themselves. The photo we are publishing in this article shows their miserable condition, one of whom, Eduart Vata, (son of Major Llesh Marashi, shot in 1946, as the leader of the Koplik uprising), even with a barrel. Come and find out why the regime was afraid of them, and kept them in prison…?! Some died after this photo. I manage to distinguish in the photo, Dom Frano Ilian (in the circle), who in April 1993, on the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Albania, was one of the four Bishops ordained by him.

The people of this group, who appear in this photo, old men with some kind of diseases, were part of Ward no. 302/2 Zejmen Lezhë, are: Eduard Vata, Faik Margaritari, Gjek Dacaj, Ismail Sula, Isuf Tashi, Josif Muzha, Jeraz Gorica, Kristi Marko, Lec Sahatçia (priest), Mikel Koliqi (priest), Rexh Çela, Urim Elezi, Safet Refugjati, Ali Kaziu, Abdyl Kalbaj, Demir Selenica, Dhimitër Konomi, Frano Ilia (priest), Han Tota, Idriz Halluni, Luan Baçi, Mehmet Istrefi, Mandi Koçi, Mehmet Beqiri, Musa Lloshi, Nikoll Troshani (priest), Sul Imeri , Hekuran Izeiri, Shanan Manaskalli, Tashul Kapurani, Xhemal Doçi, Zisa Pilo, Ziso Vangjeli, Dane Gjocaj, Shefqet Sheme.

These names can be searched and identified in this photo, by their family members, relatives, etc. Besides them, in Department no. 302/1, there were also 13 elderly convicts, not for politics and in Ward no. 302/3, featured two elderly immigrants, convicted for political issues. All of them had some types of diseases, even incurable). Memorie.al