Written by Ismet Azizi. Taken from the article in the “Kosova per Sanxhaku”. Translation by Petrit Latifi

The Case of the Epitaph in the Albanian Language in the Village of Ugëll i Peshterit in Sandzak. The “Kosovo for Sandzak” Association informs the public and relevant institutions about a sensitive cultural and national case that illustrates the situation of the autochthonous Albanians in the Sandzak of Pazari Ri (Novi Pazar).

The Peshterit Plateau, an important region in Sandzak, with over 95 percent of the Muslim population of Albanian origin, was occupied by Serbia and Montenegro in 1912.

In more than 200 settlements in this area, even today in some villages the Albanian language is heard, which has survived, despite the denial of national identity and the right to self-declaration.

One such case is that of the village of Ugëll (Ugao), on the border with Montenegro, where residents have sent us photographs of the two epitaphs written in Albanian for Fatë Aliçkaj (1910–1966), born in Jezgrović, Tutin municipality, and settled in Ugëll. The epitaphs were prepared to mark her grave in the cemetery of the village of Ugëll, but for reasons still unclear, they were never placed.

It is suspected that because of the text of the epitaph in Albanian, the family did not have the courage to place them. This is happening despite the fact that at the time of her death, the Albanian language was spoken by all the residents of the area.

On behalf of the Presidency of the Association “Kosovo for Sandzak”, we appeal to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, respectively the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Belgrade, to visit this village and get to know the situation of the rights of Albanians in Sandzak.

Our association has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Bosnian National Council (BNV), through which it has a participatory and consultative status in this institution and operates in Sandzak.

The case of the epitaphs is just one of hundreds of examples of discrimination that hinders the development of normal life in this region inhabited by autochthonous Albanians.