Fazli Grajçevci (Greicevci or Grajqefci) (1935-1964) was an Albanian activist, poet, intellectual and patriot who became known as the “symbol of the flag” among Albanians during the 1960s in Yugoslavia. In 1964, the secret police of the Yugoslav state arrested and imprisoned him. After 14 days of torture, he died in Pristina prison on August 17. There is a street named after him in Pristina.

Fazli Grajčevci was born in 1935 in Sankovc, Flamuras, in Drenica, he finished school in Komoran. In 1954 he enrolled in school in Prishtina where he spent 3 years and continued for 4 years in Prizren. He graduated with a degree in Mitrovica but was revoked from it due to the political tensions of the time. During the 1960s, Grajqevci worked as a teacher in the villages of Kishnarekë, Vasilevë and Dobroševc.

During a period he worked at NGB “Rilindja”, (rilindja), a cultural organization in Pristina. Grajqevci was a very passionate patriot and politician and started the “Revolutionary Organization for the Union of Albanians”. In 1964, the secret police of the Yugoslav state arrested and imprisoned him. After 14 days of torture, he died in Pristina prison on August 17. There is a street named after him in Pristina.

Legacy

It has been recorded in Albanian folklore by the rhapsodist Aziz Morina who was the first to write the history of Grajçevci. The song is also called “Flag Song”. Recently, a documentary was made about his life.

References

1. http://www.pashtriku.org/?kat=63&shkrimi=822
2. “Kopje e arkivuar”. Arkivuar nga origjinali më 24 qershor 2016. Marrë më 3 nëntor 2017.
3. http://www.botasot.info/lajme/423634/fatos-nano-dhe-millosheviqi-i-derguan-bandat/
4. “Kopje e arkivuar”. Arkivuar nga origjinali më 2 nëntor 2017. Marrë më 3 nëntor 2017.
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-snoGINi-0