KOMUNITETI MYSLIMAN SHQIPTAR NË VITET E LUFTËS SË DYTË BOTËRORE (1939-1944)
ALBANIAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1939-1944)

Summary/Abstract: The Italian occupation created new circumstances for the Muslim Community and Albanian Muslims. The leaders of KMSh (Albanian Muslim Community) faced a very difficult situation. In some circles it was openly discussed that Muslims must flee to Asia. This pushed the chairman of the KMSh and clerics to back the invaders. The conformism of the president, Dr. Bexhet Shapati aroused the discontent of the Muslims. A petition addressed to the Prime Minister, signed by 40 pious, asked the reformation of the KMSh. As a result, according to them, it was necessary to form an assembly, which would review the ongoing activity of this institution, determine the necessary measures and construct the General Council. To indulge the clergy, the fascist invaders used several tactics. Firstly, they revised the secular and modem reforms that had been implemented during the republic and monarchy in the field of education, where the subject of religion had been extremely reduced. As part of their policy, Italians reformed the KMSh, by removing from office all clerics who were considered nationalists and anti-fascists. The unification of Kosovo with the Albanian state created new circumstances for the KMSH. This resulted in the unification of Islamic religious institutions. The congress held in Prizren, formulated essential issues regarding the path to be followed for the unification of the Islamic community. During the German occupation, the KMSh faced unexpected situations. Unlike the Italians, the Germans did not have the time needed to intervene directly in the problems of the administration and the management of the KMSh. These and related issues faced by Albanian Muslims and the KMSh during World War II consist the focus of this article.

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