Njazi Islami

After the occupation of Albania, Islami became closely involved with the anti-fascist movement and established contact with the main leaders of the Communist Party of Albania. According to later biographical accounts, the house he rented on Dibra Street became one of the main bases of the senior communist leadership. He was then arrested and imprisoned by the Italians, and later escaped from Tirana prison with the group of Koçi Xoxe.^[1][2]

After escaping, he remained underground for a time and was later appointed commissar in a unit commanded by Haxhi Lleshi, where he fought in the Battle of Peshkopi. He subsequently held other senior posts in the partisan ranks, eventually becoming deputy commissar of the 6th Division, which fought as far as Višegrad in Yugoslavia.^[1][2]

After World War II, Njazi Islami entered the postwar communist administration and was appointed Minister of Communications in 1945. Later biographical accounts also describe him as serving in the transport portfolio, though the available sources do not always use the same title for the office.^[1][2]

By 1950, Islami had fallen out with the communist leadership. According to one biographical account, he was expelled from the Party and the Central Committee on 20–23 April 1950. A later source places his death in February 1951, after this break with the regime had already occurred.^[2]

According to the testimony of his wife, Nazmie Islami (Keçi), Njazi Islami died on 25 February 1951 in Tirana, in the villa on Elbasan Street where the family was living at the time. She said he returned home shortly before the incident, after which gunshots were heard inside the house.^[1][2]