Petrit Latifi

In 1878, when Albanian inhabited regions like Podgorica, Nikshiq, Zhablak, Kolashin, Tivar and Ulqin were invaded and awarded to Montenegro, the slavization of the population began immediately. In the publication “Stosunki albañsko-czarnogórskie w latach 1875–1911” by Dariusz J. Gregorcz we can read:

“This process primarily affected the Muslim part of society, which, after the annexation to Montenegro of the areas with the cities of Podgorica, Nikšić and Şabljak, Kolaminy, Bar and Ulcinj, decided to abandon their family estates and emigrate mainly to the territories of Albania.

Albanians fleeing Nikshiq

“It should be added that Slavs of Islamic faith also left their homes, workshops and farms. The scale of this phenomenon was large, as can be attested by the fact that in the years 1877–1882 alone from the city of Nikshiq and its surroundings 283 Muslim families emigrated, settling in the areas located mainly in the vicinity of Skadar (Shkodër).”

Slavization (Montenegrinization or Serbianization) began immediately

“In the newly occupied territories, the Montenegrin authorities immediately tried to completely subjugate the local population. Attempts were made to achieve this among others by “(…) forcing Mohammedans to change their usual clothes, put on hats with the coat of arms of Nikita I and sending children to Slavic language schools (…)”¹

Such a categorical treatment of a religious minority, such as the followers of the Islamic religion in Montenegro, resulted in the fact that the people of Albanian origin were still forced to emigrate to the territories subject to Turkey. It was for them that the Turkish authorities organized in the years 1886–1887 in the territory of Albania, a number of health points to provide the emigrants with preventive medical care.”

Vilayet of Kosovo.

Reference

http://dlibra.bg.ajd.czest.pl:8080/Content/927/res_politicae_2.-15.pdf

1. W. Jablonowski, Pamiêtniki z lat 1851 – 1893, Kraków 1967, p. 474 ↩︎