Musa Qazimi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Musa Qazimi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1864 |
| Died | 7 July 1915 (aged 50–51) |
| Occupations | teacher, mufti, politician |
| Known for | Peasant Revolt in Albania |
Musa Qazimi (1864 – 7 July 1915) was an Albanian politician and rebel.[1] A Turcophile mufti, he was first the mayor (1904-1908), then the mufti (1908-1913), and finally the prefect of Tirana (1913-1914). In the turbulent period after the Albanian declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire, he was first a supporter of the Young Turks, then of Essad Pasha. After he broke with Essad Pasha, he defected and became a leader in the sectarian, reactionary[2] and clerically tinged pro-Ottoman revolt against the new Albanian state's authorities. While the official head of the movement was Haxhi Qamili and the head of its armed forces was Mustafa Ndroqi, Qazimi has been considered to be the ideological inspiration of the movement.,[1] and the "real leader" of the uprising.[3] After the revolt was shattered by a makeshift alliance consisting of Mirdita Catholics, local resistance, Kosovar Albanians led by Isa Boletini and some foreign volunteers mainly from Romania, he was found guilty of orchestrating the slaughter that occurred during his revolt against supporters of the Albanian national movement as well as Bektashis and Christians, and he was executed on July 7, 1915.[4]
Career in politics
In 1904, he was appointed kaymakam of at the time the Kaza of Tirana, a post which he served until 1908.[4] In 1908, he became the mufti of Tirana.[4]
In 1912, Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire, and while the government of Ismail Kemal, which had issued the Albanian declaration of independence, claimed sovereignty over the entire country, the reality was more complicated due to hostilities between Albanian and Ottoman forces, local anarchy, and the ensuing Balkan Wars. Various factions arose that vied for control over the different regions of Albania. Ideologically, at this time, Qazimi was a supporter of the Young Turks,[1] who were still aiming to reincorporate Albania into the Ottoman Empire.[3]
Alliance with Essad Pasha Toptani
After Albanian independence, many rich Muslim landowners, together with Muslim clergy such as Qazimi, remained loyal to the Ottoman Empire and were afraid of losing their privileged status after the signing of the London Peace Treaty and the decision of the Great Powers about the future status of the territory which today belongs to Albania. They maintained close contacts with the government of the Young Turks in Istanbul, which was still hoping to restore Ottoman suzerainty over Albania. The Young Turks sent agents to co-opt their fears with the aim of reincorporating Albania into the Ottoman Empire.[3][5]
They found an ally in Essad Pasha Toptani, a powerful Albanian warlord from the illustrious Toptani family who had become famous for his role in the defense of Shkodra. Essad Pasha became the head of the emerging Republic of Central Albania. The Kingdom of Serbia also agreed to support Essad Pasha's government financially, and even with military force if needed. In exchange, Essad Pasha agreed to neutralize a large group of about 20,000 kachaks led by Albanian nationalist Isa Boletini from Kosovo and Macedonia.[6] They were led by Isa Boletini and supported by Kemal and his Provisional Government of Albania. Essad Pasha agreed to help the Kingdom of Serbia acquire part of the coastal areas north of Black Drin.[7]
Qazimi strongly sympathized with Essad Pasha's desire to have a Muslim, rather than Christian, prince ruling Albania.,[3] and he became an ally of Essad Pasha's faction.[3] When Essad Pasha captured Tirana, he threw out Refik Toptani, the previous prefect of the region, and installed Qazimi in his place.[4]
However, when Essad Pasha lost the allegiance of the Muslim clerical and land-owning class when he began to reconcile with the newly established "heathen" Prince Wied;[3] Musa Qazimi thus became Essad Pasha's enemy.[4] Essad Pasha thus played a role in the psychological preparation of the following uprising in which Musa Qazimi would come to play a critical role.[3]