by Çerkin H. Peci
Abstract
The article recounts episodes from the life of Sherif Voca and the Voca family from Shala of Mitrovica, highlighting themes of hospitality, political tension, and resistance during Serbian rule in Kosovo. After helping an unknown Serbian officer, the family gained recognition from the Serbian king, which later placed Sherif Voca in political circles. When confronted with policies aimed at expelling Albanians, Sherif and allies resisted, leading to danger, exile, and eventual assassination. The narrative blends family testimony and historical memory, portraying courage, loyalty, and the complex relations between Albanians and Serbian authorities in the early twentieth century.
Godparenthood
A Serbian officer (a major), while returning from the Salonika Front, lost his way. Alone and wandering, fate brought him to the village of Melenica in the region of Mitrovica. He met a villager and asked which family he could go to for lodging that night. The villager pointed toward the houses of the Voca family and said that they were generous and that he could stay there.
The Voca family welcomed him without knowing who he was. Since his clothes were completely worn out and he was exhausted from the journey, they allowed him to wash and gave him clean clothes. Of course they also gave him food and kept him in their house for two nights. On the third day, at his request, the head of the household, Beqiri, assigned one of his sons to accompany him. They set off on horseback and escorted him all the way to the border with Serbia, where the Serbian officer thanked them. The Voca returned home, having fulfilled his duty.
That Serbian had been a loyal soldier of the King of Serbia. Four months later the soldier died. The king ordered that all of his documents be collected. While reading his memoirs, they discovered his whole odyssey, including the episode with the Voca family.
The king took interest in the matter and sent a letter to the Voca family asking that a representative of the family immediately come to Belgrade, without explaining the reason. Naturally the family became worried about what might happen. The head of the house was old, so they decided to send Sherif. Sherif departed from Vushtrri and traveled by train to Belgrade. He presented himself to the king, who was there together with government ministers and his friends, and they welcomed him.
At one moment, wanting to test Sherif, the king asked him: if all the salt in a warehouse had become moldy, how could it be cleaned? Sherif knew that salt does not grow mold, so he answered calmly: “Put bird’s milk on it and everything will be fine.” This was the appropriate answer, because birds do not produce milk either. The king signaled to the others that this man was clever.
After that, the king told him the truth about the unknown guest. In gratitude, he granted the Voca family the honor of becoming godparents and gave them other benefits as well. From this moment began the connection between the Voca family and the king and the Government of Serbia.
Sherif Voca as a Member of Parliament
At that time, as is known, one of Serbia’s planned goals was the expulsion of Albanians from Kosovo and other territories under Serbian occupation. In this regard, the government in Belgrade held several meetings. At one decisive session Sherif happened to be with Ramë Bllaca.
The night before, Sherif had stayed with Albanian students in Belgrade. Together they had discussed the planned expulsions, and for that reason the students had written a report opposing the decision, which Sherif was supposed to present in the Serbian parliament. Interestingly, Sherif knew how to read but did not know how to write. However, they had agreed with the deputy Ramë Bllaca on what to do, and this is what happened the next day in parliament.
When the government decision on the expulsion of Albanians was given to Sherif, he read it. But when they asked him to sign it, he said he did not know how to sign. Ramë Bllaca said, “Give it to me, I will sign it.”
The government officials were pleased, but their joy did not last long. As soon as Ramë Bllaca took the document in his hands, he tore it into pieces. The officials were shocked and immediately ended the meeting.
As they were descending the stairs of the building, a Bosniak deputy named Sokollović told them that since the situation had become tense, they should not leave for Kosovo but instead go with him to Sarajevo, and from there they would figure something out. Sherif agreed and went to Sarajevo, while Ramë Bllaca continued toward Kosovo. As is known, an ambush was arranged for him not far from his home, and he was killed by the Serbian gendarmerie.
Sherif Voca was only able to stay one night with the Bosniak deputy in Sarajevo, because the man feared that the Belgrade government might trace him there.
Escape
Sherif Voca then went to Italy, to Rome. There he stayed with an “Albanian.” However, that “Albanian” was actually a spy and had discovered who Sherif was and what had happened in Belgrade—perhaps Sherif himself had told him in confidence.
One morning, while Sherif was praying, the host’s wife entered and said:
“Sherif aga, it is not the time to pray. My husband has gone out to gather his band in order to kill you.”
Sherif immediately stopped praying and left in a carriage toward Rome’s airport. But he noticed that the host was following him. As soon as he reached the airport, he informed the gendarmerie that he was in danger, pointing out the person who was chasing him and asking them to allow him to take any flight available. A plane heading for Greece was about to depart, so they recommended it to him, and Sherif left for Greece.
In Greece he met an Arvanite (Albanian) shepherd and lived illegally with him in the mountains for six months. After six months he became restless and decided to return to Kosovo. It is worth mentioning that he had a considerable amount of money with him, which might have been the reason the “Albanian” host in Rome wanted to kill him.
Return and Death
On the first night he arrived in Mitrovica, at his home, spies noticed him and informed the city gendarmerie, which kept him under surveillance. The next day Sherif disguised himself in women’s clothing, mounted a horse, and set off for his village Melenica where his family lived. But after leaving the city, the gendarmerie killed Sherif in an ambush that had been prepared during the night.
Thus his life came to an end.
P.S.
These accounts come first-hand from his family, from Jashar Voca, who together with his brothers and other relatives fought in their tower house in the village of Pasomë against the Serbo-Yugoslav partisans, creating a heroic episode of resistance that should be a special chapter in our national history.
Glory to all those who fell in that struggle.
Çerkin H. Peci
28.03.2023
