Univers15

Msc. Saimir Shatku
STATE-RELIGION REPORT
(1912-1939)
The effort to shed light on the current 100-year path, of the
ratio of relations between the Albanian state with religion and
its religious institutions in the area of rights and freedoms
of faith, is a modest commitment, that makes possible to
see, through retrospective, the new horizon of their future.
Historical documents argue that, since the first constitutional acts
of Albanian independence, it has been affirmed the principle of
separation of religion from the state, of the freedom of conscience
and faith and the right of its exercise, sanctioned in “Organic
Statute of Albania” 1 . During the period of the years 1920-
1939, the policy of Albanian state, aimed at establishing strict
national principles for the activity of religious institutions and at
breaking the ties of foreign dependence and influence to them,
thus supporting the interests of national unity and avoiding the
religious division 2 .
The report of the rights and freedoms of belief, during the
communist regime, is a history of atheist persecutory, denigrating
and denying policy towards religion, clergy and religious
institutions. The Constitution of the year 1976 eventually
sanctioned the principle of atheism/disbelief, declaring Albania
the only atheist country in the world 3 .
Democratic developments in the country restored the
freedom of religion and that of religious belief, by redefining
the report of the relationships between state and religion in the
context of the principles of the rule of law. During this transition
period, the religious institutions are reorganized, the freedom of
1
Afrim Krasniqi “ Political Systems in Albania (1912 -2008 )” Tirana 2009 page 57
2
Roberto Maroco Della Roka “ Nationality and Religion in Albania 1920 – 1944 “
1994, page 131-132.
3
Constitution of Socialist Republic of Albania Tirana 1976
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