Hafiz Sabri Koçi

Shaikh Hafiz Sabri Koçi (Arabic: حافظ صبري كوتشي‎‎‎; 13 May 1921 – 18 June 2004) was an Albanian Muslim cleric who served as the Grand Mufti of Albania in the 1990s. He was born in Orenjë, and educated in Shkodër.[1] He served as the imam of Drisht from 1938–1939 before assuming the same role in Shkodër. Koçi was promoted to the mufti of Krujë in 1955. The next year, he was named mufti of Kavajë. He was persecuted for his faith by Enver Hoxha[2] and subsequently spent 23 years in jail for refusing to support the new drive towards complete atheism.[3] After the Muslim community of Albania was recognized in 1991, Koçi served as the first Grand Mufti.[4] Upon his death, Koçi was succeeded by Selim Muça.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Elsie, Robert (2012-12-24). A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History. I.B.Tauris. p. 240. ISBN 9781780764313.
  2. ↑ Merdjanova, Ina (2016-02-15). Rediscovering the Umma: Muslims in the Balkans Between Nationalism and Transnationalism. Oxford University Press. p. 40. ISBN 9780190462505.
  3. ↑ Vickers, Miranda; Pettifer, James (1997-01-01). Albania: From Anarchy to a Balkan Identity. Hurst. p. 103. ISBN 9781850652908.
  4. ↑ Roy, Olivier; Elbasani, Arolda (2015-07-28). The Revival of Islam in the Balkans: From Identity to Religiosity. Springer. ISBN 9781137517845.
  5. ↑ Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. pp. 231–232. ISBN 9780810873803.

External links

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