Home Albanian Catholic Bulletin Albanian Catholic Bulletin Vol. IV, No. 1& 2
Albanian Catholic Bulletin Vol. 4, No. 1& 2
Albanian Catholic Bulletin Vol. IV, No. 1& 2
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE
PLIGHT OF BELIEVERS IN ALBANIA
For the past decade, the plight of Albanian believers persevering in their just cause for religious freedom has been slowly gaining public attention and
support. In many prayer groups around the world, particularly in Europe, concerned people, not only pray for their brothers and sisters in Albania, but
by becoming more aware about their plight, are asking their respective religious and civic leaders to speak and act on behalf of persecuted Albanians.
After the appeals for religious freedom in Albania issued by Boston's Cardinal Humberto Medeiros, and the late Orthodox Bishop (of the Albanian
Archdiocese) Mark Lipa, and after repeated pleas of our Holy Father, other leaders and institutions began to raise their voices. We single out two recent
strong pronouncements against the violation of religious rights in Albania. The first is from the Danish European Mission. After months of tireless work
gathering evidence, the Misson presented a Paper to the Danish Foreign Ministry, on June 17, 1982, requesting intervention at the U.N. Human Rights
Commission in Geneva. Eight months later, the Foreign Ministry of Denmark officially appealed to the U.N. Human Rights Commission during its 39th
meeting on March 11, 1983, and urged respect of the U.N. Declaration on the Elimination of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion and
Belief. As far as we know, this is the first time in the history of the U.N. that Albania's government has been singled out for violations of its citizens' rights.
Enver Hoxha, mastermind of religious persecution in Albania, has often in his speeches praised Denmark as a sincere friend. Thus, the Danish
government, by this noble-act, has publicly shown its high regard for the safeguard of human rights everywhere, even in Albania. Albanians at home and
in exile, highly welcome and are thankful for this bold step. We are grateful to the Danish European Mission, and to Mission Possible U.S.A. May other
Christian and Humanitarian organizations follow in the steps of these two in promoting religious freedom of the Albanian believers. Below, is an excerpt
of the Danish Government's motion:
UN-mission
1 1 119. B. 11 March 11, 1983
The 39. meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Statement by the Delegation of
Denmark on March 7, 1983 on agenda item 25. Implementation of the Declaration of the Elimination of
all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief.
(An excerpt)
Mr. Chairman,
ft took this Commission 20 years to draft and finally adopt the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on
Religion or Belief.
The Declaraton brings together and enlarges upon the principles of religious freedom recognized by United Nations Human Rights instruments. It asserts
the individual, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to manifest religion or belief without coercion. It deals with the elimination of
discrimination on grounds of religion or belief and protects the rights of parents and children with regard to religion, family life and education. It also
contains important provisions regarding the practice of religion or belief including the right to worship and assembly, freedom to publish and to teach
religion or belief and to train and elect leaders.
What has been the impact of the adoption of the declaration on the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief?
If one looks at the number of conflicts around the World that involve religion and at the extent of religious persecution of individuals and groups taking
place in many countries under different pretexts and in more or less sophisticated disguises we are afraid that the conclusion will be that the impact of the
adoption of the Declaration, if there is any at all, is hardly to be perceived.
Title Albanian Catholic Bulletin Vol. 4, No. 1& 2
Title Albanian Catholic Bulletin Vol. IV, No. 1& 2
Identifier ACBV4N1-2015_Page 13 International Support Frot The Plight Of Believers In Albania.tif
Source ACBV4N1-2015_Page 13 International Support Frot The Plight Of Believers In Albania.tif
Transcripts INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE PLIGHT OF BELIEVERS IN ALBANIA For the past decade, the plight of Albanian believers persevering in their just cause for religious freedom has been slowly gaining public attention and support. In many prayer groups around the world, particularly in Europe, concerned people, not only pray for their brothers and sisters in Albania, but by becoming more aware about their plight, are asking their respective religious and civic leaders to speak and act on behalf of persecuted Albanians. After the appeals for religious freedom in Albania issued by Boston's Cardinal Humberto Medeiros, and the late Orthodox Bishop (of the Albanian Archdiocese) Mark Lipa, and after repeated pleas of our Holy Father, other leaders and institutions began to raise their voices. We single out two recent strong pronouncements against the violation of religious rights in Albania. The first is from the Danish European Mission. After months of tireless work gathering evidence, the Misson presented a Paper to the Danish Foreign Ministry, on June 17, 1982, requesting intervention at the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Eight months later, the Foreign Ministry of Denmark officially appealed to the U.N. Human Rights Commission during its 39th meeting on March 11, 1983, and urged respect of the U.N. Declaration on the Elimination of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion and Belief. As far as we know, this is the first time in the history of the U.N. that Albania's government has been singled out for violations of its citizens' rights. Enver Hoxha, mastermind of religious persecution in Albania, has often in his speeches praised Denmark as a sincere friend. Thus, the Danish government, by this noble-act, has publicly shown its high regard for the safeguard of human rights everywhere, even in Albania. Albanians at home and in exile, highly welcome and are thankful for this bold step. We are grateful to the Danish European Mission, and to Mission Possible U.S.A. May other Christian and Humanitarian organizations follow in the steps of these two in promoting religious freedom of the Albanian believers. Below, is an excerpt of the Danish Government's motion: UN-mission Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1 1 119. B. 11 March 11, 1983 No. 129 The 39. meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Statement by the Delegation of Denmark on March 7, 1983 on agenda item 25. Implementation of the Declaration of the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief. (An excerpt) Mr. Chairman, ft took this Commission 20 years to draft and finally adopt the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief. The Declaraton brings together and enlarges upon the principles of religious freedom recognized by United Nations Human Rights instruments. It asserts the individual, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to manifest religion or belief without coercion. It deals with the elimination of discrimination on grounds of religion or belief and protects the rights of parents and children with regard to religion, family life and education. It also contains important provisions regarding the practice of religion or belief including the right to worship and assembly, freedom to publish and to teach religion or belief and to train and elect leaders. Mr. Chairman, What has been the impact of the adoption of the declaration on the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief? If one looks at the number of conflicts around the World that involve religion and at the extent of religious persecution of individuals and groups taking place in many countries under different pretexts and in more or less sophisticated disguises we are afraid that the conclusion will be that the impact of the adoption of the Declaration, if there is any at all, is hardly to be perceived. 13
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Page 4 Albanian News And Events
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Page 39 Pope and Vatican --...
Page 42 Dream Traps And Other...
Page 44 Passive Reaction To...
Page 47 Who Is Enver Hoxha Afraid...
Page 48 Albanians Who Honor Their...
Page 49 Some Reflections On...
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Page 54 Memorandum To U.N....
Page 59 A Chilling Document of...
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Page 91 Albanians Throughout The...
Page 92 Ukranian Speaks Out For...
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Page 95 Alexander Moissi Great...
Page 96 Two Symposia On Religious...
Page 97 A Voice Crying In The...
Page 99 Armando Valladares Ordeal
Page 101 Book Reviews
Page 2 Editorials & Letters From Our Readers
Page 13 International Support Frot The Plight Of Believers In Albania
Page 16 Thirty-fifth Anniversay of Their Martyrdom
Page 20 The Revolutionary Movement Against Religion In The Sixties
Page 35 Stalinist Legacy of Enver Hoxha
Page 37 He Wanted To Pray And Believe, By Angel Loti
Page 39 Pope and Vatican -- Targets
Page 42 Dream Traps And Other Tricks In The System Of Education In Albania
Page 44 Passive Reaction To Atheism May Bring People To Religion
Page 46 Amnesty International Annual Report 1982 - Albania
Page 47 Who Is Enver Hoxha Afraid Of
Page 48 Albanians Who Honor Their Origins
Page 49 Some Reflections On Contemporary Albania, By Dr. Rexhep Krasniqi
Page 51 In Stalin's Refuge, By Sandro Ottolenghi
Page 54 Memorandum To U.N. General Secretary On Persecutions In Kosova
Page 59 A Chilling Document of Torture Of Albanians In Yugoslav Prisons
Page 62 International Conference On Kosove Held In New York
Page 66 Kosova Issue Presented In U.S. Senate
Page 68 Kosova Events In The World Press And Academic Forums
Page 74 Albanians In Kosova Are Waiting Yugoslavia Misses Its Chance, By Viktor Meier
Page 76 Albanian -Yugoslav Relations And The Question Of Kosove, By Elez Biberaj
Page 87 Lutja E Ashikut - An Albanian Prayer
Page 91 Albanians Throughout The World Celebrate Seventieth Anniversary of Their Independence
Page 92 Ukranian Speaks Out For Albanians Solidarity
Page 94 The Truth About The Greek Minority In Albania
Page 95 Alexander Moissi Great Albanian Actor Of World Theatre
Page 96 Two Symposia On Religious Freedom Held
Page 97 A Voice Crying In The Wilderness