By Enver Memishaj
Memorie.al / Vasfi Samimi (Visokë, 1908 – August 4, 1981), graduated Professor Doctor of Sciences, veterinary doctor, football player with “Fenerbaçen” in Turkey, writer and publicist. Co-founder of the Albanian veterinary service and the first veterinary and human diagnostic institutions, veterinary public health and the first veterinary service law, outstanding contributions to the development and consolidation of veterinary medicine and scientific research. Lecturer at the Agricultural University, Tirana.
His life and works were published in 28 volumes by his two sons, after the state had forgotten this patriot and scientist. Samimi is a representative of that generation of intellectual professionals, formed in Turkey and Germany, who brought to life the connection between Albania and Kosovo.
Among his publications in the field of literature, we mention “Mother Kosovo”, it is one of the author’s sincere and romantic descriptions, for the years 1938-’43. The book opens with the poetic expression: “I have been to Kosovo five times.
I have been his lover five times. The sky of Kosovo shines with the rays of the sun, which wears the human eye, its atmosphere is filled with an attractive power and in its sacred lands, a magical power waves”.
The work “True Albania, Mother Kosovo” (1938-1943), Feelings and thoughts, Travel impression from the Liberated Lands, first edition in Tirana 1943, second edition, Tirana 1995.
“This book is dedicated to the dead and young martyrs, of the past and of the present day, who have fallen martyrs for the freedom of the nation and the homeland. In this book there is no politics, chauvinism and one-sided views, but there is only an honest presentation, a sacred human truth…”!
When the communists came to power, Vasfi Visoka was one of the first to be arrested on December 7, 1944, and put before the “Special Court” for “War Criminals and Enemies of the People”, otherwise known as the “Special Court”. , which was a communist court that operated in the spring of 1945.
The jury consisted of 9 people, its chairman was appointed lieutenant general Koçi Xoxe (a tinsmith with 5th grade school), and members: col. Enter Kapo, n/col. Beqir Balluku, chap. I, Hajdar Aranitasi, partisan Gaqo Boboshtica, Dr. Medar Pillar; Faik Shehu, Halim Budo, judge; Gaqo Floqi, judge.
On March 10, 1945, Bilbil Klosi, Major Gjon Banushi and Major Haki Toska were appointed as assistant judges. The prosecutor of the trial was Bedri Spahiu, major general. According to Badri Spahi, “Enver Hoxha was the real leader, judge and prosecutor”.
The prosecutor asked for the sentence of Vasfi Samimi to 5 years in prison, while the court was “humane” and sentenced him to 3 years in prison, without any legal evidence. He was released from prison in 1946, with amnesty and remained for life, supervised by the State Security. Why was the patriot and scientist Vasfi Visoka sentenced?
From the minutes of the court, we learn that Vasfi Visoka was sentenced for the publication of the book “Mother Kosovo”, as “the ideas of this book destroyed the friendship with the Serbs”, who kept Kosovo occupied as martyrs, because the author called Serbian academics; criminal intellectuals, regarding Kosovo and defended the view that; “there is neither Great Albania nor Little Albania, but only True Albania”.
That book written with patriotic pathos, full of human feelings, great civic responsibility and outstanding intellectual courage, had become a merciless punishment for him, as long as he was alive. In December 1944, the book was removed from circulation and remained a banned book throughout the entire period, as long as the communist regime continued.
Court minutes:
“The defendant Vasfi Samim Visoka, the son of Zeqiri and Safete Ali, born in Berat in 1905, (some give as the year of birth, 1908) was called, married with two children, not convicted, with a high education, in veterinary medicine, in Istanbul and Berlin.
The defendants are charged with the charges formulated by the Central Commission for the Detection of Crimes and War Criminals and Enemies of the People, with the indictment dated 24.2. 1945, containing:
- It has been a conscious tool of enemy propaganda as a publicist.
- As general secretary of the Ministry of Popular Culture, he was responsible for anti-allied and anti-national liberation propaganda campaigns.
The defendant was asked to answer the above charges and said:
“For 15 years as a civil servant, I have worked conscientiously for the good of my country. As a man and a technical officer, I have never weighed in on the political directions pursued in our country, nor have I mixed, nor do I want to mix, with political currents.
The articles that I have written, 70%, have agricultural and livestock content, 20%, with a sports character and 10%, with a literary spirit.
I wrote the book “Mother Kosovo” with full conscience and I take responsibility for its content. I wrote this book as an Albanian and it has a humane style, and I said in that book that the problem of Kosovo, by no means, should be solved by war.
It is not true at all that I was ordered by someone to take care of that book, but I took care of it myself, voluntarily.
I support and believe in the benefits of a Balkan Federation and I am a strict opponent of any kind of chauvinism. In this book, if it is examined, it will be seen that I did not use the word “fascism”, or any word, against any neighbor”.
On the prosecutor’s request, he said:
“In this book, I have not attacked the Serbs and I have not been ordered by Mid’hat Frashëri, I prepared it, because I have no connection with the ‘National Front’.
The article published in the newspaper “Bashkimi i Kombit”, on January 6, 1944; “We hit, but we listened”, it refers to the human spirit that it contains and is completely impartial, for the elimination of fratricide, because I did not want, that the ballist killed a member of the National Liberation and vice versa.
I wanted the union, for the good of the country and against the occupier. The article itself is clear. The article was not controlled by the Germans, because at that time the Germans did not exercise control over the press.
I thought, as completely impartial, that the Albanian nation, as small and poor, should have a tact, with the prohibition of fratricide. I say that; the war had to continue, against the occupier.
I have not had any political goals in my articles, because I am not involved in any political group, and you will have noticed that, and that my name is not mentioned in political organizations…!
My articles should not have the interpretation that Mr. Prosecutor gives them, because they are clear, that they are written with a humanitarian spirit and completely impartial….”!
The lawyer said that we have these witnesses: Eng. Jovan Adam, Andon Mazreku, Gaqo Progri, Sokrat Mio, Kostaq Cipo, Hilmi Taçi, Dr. Veis Sejko, Eng. Lazar Treska. Tirana on 22.3.1945
The last word before the court: “I accompany my defender, adding that; for 15 years in the service, I have written books and articles, always in the service of the people and of my country, in case I have made any mistake, I apologize to the People’s Court and I believe that you will establish my innocence”.
Before the court, on March 22, 1945, to give the last word, they did not appear: Emin Toro, Koço Kota, Mahmut Golemi, and Abedin Dzhiku, because they happened to be sick in prison, suffering from the “uncle’s disease”!, while Et Cara, Refat Begolli and Ihsan Libohova were in the prison hospital, as they had raised more wood than the first four.
The court is “humane” and appoints: Gaqo Floqin, Hysni Kapon, Beqir Ballukun and Bilbil Klosin, to get the last word from the seven defendants, where they were sent from the “uncle’s disease”! (M.P.B. Archive, File 1568, pp. 266 – 267). Memorie.al
