by Sabedin Sherifi. Taken from Mediafokus. Translation Petrit Latifi

Tahir Sejfiu was born in 1880 in the village of Zhegoci, in the heart of Anamorava, where he spent his entire life and died in 1957. Known for his wisdom, manliness and loyalty, he left an indelible mark on local and national history, as a figure who never bowed to injustice. A wise, loyal man and unwavering voice of the Albanian cause, his actions transcended local borders, becoming part of the national resistance.

He was a participant in the Prizren Assembly (8–10 July 1945), where, together with Ramiz Cernica, they strongly opposed the unification of Kosovo with Serbia.

This courageous stance was severely punished: Ramiz was imprisoned, while Tahiri was erased from official documents and archives – an attempt by the communist regime to silence true Albanian voices.
In addition to his stance against the Serbian government, Tahir Žegoci is also known for his contribution against the migration of Albanians to Turkey.

He was a voice of reason and resistance, who worked to stop one of the greatest demographic tragedies that was prepared by the Yugoslav regime in collaboration with the Turkish authorities in the 1950s.
In times of turmoil and great political divisions, Tahiri always stood on the side of truth and the homeland.

During World War II, he clearly understood the danger that came from collaborating with the communist government and especially from the Serbian-communist backstage. He was a man who knew history and who believed in his own experience – that the betrayal from Belgrade had never stopped and would never stop.

In a meeting in his chamber in Zhegoci, Tahiri addressed Fadil Hoxha with strong and sincere words: “The Serbs have always betrayed us and will betray us again.” But Tahiri did not know that Fadil’s companion was a Serb. Fadil, with a smile, replied: “Come on, brother, don’t worry, because the Serbs are our brothers and we are fighting for liberation and brotherhood-union.” (The Serb who was dressed in Albanian and spoke Albanian was a Serb from Gushterica-Lipjan)

This historical moment was later mentioned by Fadil himself in his memoirs “When Spring is Late”, telling about the figure of the wise old man of Zhegoc who spoke with heart and honesty, but who did not fit the logic of the political alliances of the time.

Tahir Sejfi’s room was not just a place where coffee was drunk and çifteli was sung, but a refuge for patriots, a center of free thought and decisions of men of the nation. It was an Albanian hearth where freedom fighters were welcomed, where words and faith were established on great issues.

Tahir Sejfiu lived with honor and died with the respect of the entire village and the highlands. His legacy is an honor for Zhegoc and for all those who do not forget the sacrifice, the man’s word and the courage to speak the truth in difficult times.