stefano schirato

In Albania, one of Europe's poorest countries, the centuries-old tradition of blood vengeance has seen a renewal over the past decade. The void in the law-and-order system, left by the collapse of Communism, sent many Albanians back to the common laws of their tribal roots. These laws include also the right, for the membership of a family, to avenge for a murder by killing a member of the murderer’s family.This can be read in the article 8 of the Kanun, that is a set of traditional Albanian laws, the origin of which is traced back to the middle of the 15th century. It was developed by Alexander Dukagjini, hero of the Albanian resistance against the Turks. I got acquainted with this topic when I met Edi, some years ago. Edi is a boy from Kalmet, a town in the North of Albania. He lives shut up in his own home and he isn’t allowed even to go to school.The story of Edi begins four years before, when his father killed two neighbours in a dispute over severed electric cables.His father was killed in turn, but only a part of the vengeance was accomplished. There were two neighbours killed: two victims in return are wanted. Edi’s life is in peril, now. Edi is 16 years old. Since that bloody day he has been living as a prisoner in his own house, together with his mother Rosa, fearing a vengeance. He is safe only among those walls, because the Kanun considers home as an inviolable place. The article 125 of the Kanun says: “All the male members of the murderer's family, including babies, cousins and nephews, even if separated, may be targeted by the revenge”. The phenomenon yet affects women and female children, despite the Kanun prohibit it.                            At least 160 children have been forced to abandon the lessons during the school hours so far, but this number is probably higher: the Minister of Education said he was determined to tackle the problem, by creating a group of teachers giving lessons directly in the houses where children are locked up.                                                                                            Edi isn't alone. About 2,800 Albanian families are thought to be living in self-imposed isolation, in the attempt to avoid the destiny of victims of blood vengeance. Of course, for none of them there is the chance to work. It took almost two years to me to get in touch with some of the families living these conditions. The most difficult thing was to be welcomed; the second most difficult thing was to get them to talk. In some areas the right of vengeance is even considered an obligation, compelled by the community, with the risk of the complete exclusion. In too many cases this turn­s into a complete and utter feud, provoking an endless chain of crimes.­ What I tried to do is to impress into pictures the impact of this situation on the life of a family and especially on its young members. The latter ones, in fact, spend all day stuck in their houses, with nothing to do. I began to gather material in 2009. I met both families fearing vengeance, and families craving for it. I tried to focus on emotional instability, on depression, on anger.  The title of my project is “Eye for an eye” and it centres upon the impact of this stalemate on minds and souls. I’d like to convey this situation and support somehow those Mediation Organization that try to bring the only possible solution: forgiveness.               I truly think that this project is handling with fundamental matters, especially in a moment in which Albania is one of the candidates for the accession to the European Union. The Foto Visura Grant would allow me to complete this story by showing the most difficult and invisible part: the reconciliation between families. Please consider me as a serious candidate.