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80-505: The first women's association in Albania was founded in 1909. Albanian women from the northern Gheg region resided within a conservative and patriarchal society. In such a traditional society, the women had subordinate roles in Gheg communities that believe in "male predominance". This is despite the arrival of democracy and the adoption of a free market economy in Albania, after the period under

160-598: A Greek language school for girls was founded, financially supported by the local Greek benefactor Christakis Zografos . The first Albanian school in Gjirokastër was opened in 1886. Today there are 14 schools in Albanian language and two bilingual Albanian-Greek schools in the city. The city is home to the Eqrem Çabej University , which opened its doors in 1968. The university has recently been experiencing low enrollments, and as

240-520: A Muslim majority due to much of the urban population converting to Islam alongside an influx of Muslim converts from the surrounding countryside. In 1811, Gjirokastër became part of the Pashalik of Yanina , then led by the Albanian-born Ali Pasha of Ioannina and was transformed into a semi-autonomous fiefdom in the southwestern Balkans until his death in 1822. In 1833 Albanian rebels took over

320-426: A center of open conflict between Greek minority members and the Albanian police. The city was particularly affected by the 1997 collapse of a massive pyramid scheme which destabilised the entire Albanian economy. The city became the focus of a rebellion against the government of Sali Berisha ; violent anti-government protests took place which eventually forced Berisha's resignation. On 16 December 1997, Hoxha's house

400-431: A declaration in the newspaper Drita , protesting discrimination against women and social conditions. In 1923 Rumbo was also part of a campaign to allow girls to attend the "boy's" lyceum of Gjirokastër . The Albanian women's movement were supported by educated urban elite women who were inspired by the state feminism of Turkey under Kemal Ataturk . During the reign of Zog I of Albania (r. 1928-1939), women's rights

480-557: A large Muslim population by the early 19th century. Gjirokastër also became a major religious centre for Bektashi Sufism. Taken by the Hellenic Army during the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, Gjirokastër was eventually incorporated into the newly independent state of Albania in 1913. The local Greek population rebelled and established the short-lived Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus in 1914 with Gjirokastër as its capital. During

560-725: A number of modern constructions which detracted from the old town's appearance. The historic core of Gjirokastër was finally inscribed in 2005, 15 years after its original nomination. Football (soccer) is popular in Gjirokastër: the city hosts Luftëtari Gjirokastër , a club founded in 1929. The club has competed in international tournaments and currently plays in the Albanian Superliga until 2006–2007 and again from 2016. The soccer matches are played in Gjirokastër Stadium , which can hold up to 8,400 spectators. Gjirokastër

640-465: A regional agricultural market that trades locally produced groceries has been built in the city. Given the potential of southern Albania to supply organically grown products, and its relationship with Greek counterparts of the nearby city of Ioannina , it is likely that the market will dedicate itself to organic farming in the future. However, trademarking and marketing of such products are currently far from European standards. The Chamber of Commerce of

720-401: A result the departments of Physics, Mathematics, Biochemistry, and Kindergarten Education did not function during the 2008–2009 academic year. In 2006, the establishment of a second university in Gjirokastër, a Greek-language one, was agreed upon after discussions between the Albanian and Greek governments. The program had an attendance of 35 students as of 2010 , but was abruptly suspended when

800-678: A small number of Greek-speaking families. In the period of the Second World War and its aftermath, some Albanian-speaking Orthodox Christians from the nearby region of Lunxhëri settled in Gjirokastër. Some inhabitants from the Zagori region in Albania also settled in the town. In the 2000s, the town's population fluctuated approximately between 42,000 and 47,000 people. Gjirokastër is home to an ethnic Greek community that according to Human Rights Watch numbered about 4,000 out of 30,000 in 1989, although Greek spokesmen have claimed that up to 34% of

880-645: A son". The Labs of Labëria were a patriarchal society. As among the Montenegrins , women in Labëria were forced to do all the drudge work. In the past, in family units that did not have patriarchs, unmarried Albanian women could take on the role of the male head of the family by "taking an oath of virginity", a role that would include the right to live like a man, to carry weapons, own property, be able to move freely, dress like men, acquire male names if they wish to do so, assert autonomy, avoid arranged marriages, and be in

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960-445: Is 1.5 children born per woman (2015 est.), which is below the replacement rate of 2.1. The contraceptive prevalence rate is quite high: 69.3% (2008/09). Most Albanian women start their families in the early and mid-twenties: as of 2011, the average age at first marriage was 23.6 for women and 29.3 for men. In some rural areas of Albania, marriages are still arranged , and society is strongly patriarchal and traditional, influenced by

1040-674: Is a city in southern Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino , at 300 metres above sea level . Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress , where the Gjirokastër National Folk Festival is held every five years. It is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha , and author Ismail Kadare . The city appears in

1120-597: Is home to a diocese part of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania . The two existing churches of the city were re-built at the end of the 18th century, after approval by the local Ottoman authorities who received large bribes by the Orthodox community. The Orthodox Cathedral of the "Transfiguration of the Saviour" was rebuilt at 1773 on the site of an older church and is located at the castle quarters. During

1200-521: The Albanian National Awakening (1831–1912), the city was a major centre of the movement, and some groups in the city were reported to carry portraits of Skanderbeg , the national hero of the Albanians during this period. Gjirokastër from the middle of the nineteenth century also prominently contributed to the wider Ottoman Empire through individuals that served as Kadı s (civil servants) and

1280-650: The Angevin holdings in Albania, possibly in the southern coastal area. Laonikos Chalkokondyles mentions that in the era before 1336, Albanian clans from the area of Durrës marched southwards and took control of most areas in Gjirokastër. In this era, the city was contested between the Italian and Serbian rulers which claimed the Despotate of Epirus with occasional Ottoman support and the Zenebishi clan under Gjon Zenebishi . In 1399,

1360-608: The Greek economic crisis , the city was one of the first areas in Albania to suffer, since many Albanian emigrants in Greece are becoming unemployed and thus are returning home. Gjirokastër is served by the SH4 Highway , which connects it to Tepelenë in the north and the Dropull region and Greek border 30 km (19 mi) to the south. The first school in the city, a Greek language school,

1440-501: The Istanbul Convention . Northern Albania It consists of the counties of Dibër , Durrës , Kukës , Lezhë and Shkodër . Their combined population is 991,093 as of the 2023 census. The northeastern mountain regions have substantial reserves of metallic mineral deposits, including chromium , copper , and iron-nickel . In the 1980s Albania was a world leader in chromium production, but output fell precipitously in

1520-781: The Italian invasion of Albania . On 8 December 1940, during the Greco-Italian War , the Hellenic Army entered the city and stayed for a five-month period before capitulating to Nazi Germany in April 1941 and returning the city to Italian command. After the capitulation of Italy in the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943, the city was taken by German forces and eventually returned to Albanian control in 1944. The postwar communist regime developed

1600-604: The Ottoman period Gjirokastër was a significant centre for the Muslim Sufi Bektashi Order , especially in relation to its spread and literary activity. In the early 19th century during the rule of Ali Pasha , British diplomat William Martin Leake during his journey from Vlorë to Gjirokastra and later to present-day Greece, in his diary describes his arrival on 26 December 1804, in the region of Derópoli , or Dropull as it

1680-753: The University of Ioannina in Greece refused to provide teachers for the 2010 school year and the Greek government and the Latsis foundation withdrew funding. Gjirokastër rapidly grew in the Ottoman era and it was key area of Ottoman urbanization in the Balkans. It was one of the main cities in the Janina vilayet . The population of Gjirokastër was predominantly Albanian-speaking in the final Ottoman era (late 19th/early 20th century) except for

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1760-522: The employment rate was 51.8% for young women, compared to 65.6% for young men. As late as 1946, about 85% of the people were illiterate , principally because schools using the Albanian language had been practically non-existent in the country before it became independent in 1912. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the Ottoman rulers had prohibited the use of the Albanian language in schools. The communist regime gave high priority to education, which included

1840-602: The "city of wailing". The novel Chronicle in Stone by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare tells the history of this city during the Italian and Greek occupation in World War I and II. It expounds on the customs of the people of Gjirokastër. At the age of twenty-four, Albanian writer Musine Kokalari wrote an 80-page collection of ten youthful prose tales in her native Gjirokastrian dialect: As my old mother tells me ( Albanian : Siç me thotë nënua plakë ), Tirana, 1941. The book tells

1920-468: The 10th day of matem , a period of fasting. In the 19th century, Sami Frashëri first voiced the idea of education for women with the argument that if would strengthen society by having educated women to teach their children. In the late 19th century, some urban elite women who had been educated in Western Europe saw a need for more education for women in Albania. In 1891, the first girls' high school

2000-415: The 19th and 20th centuries by Ali Pasha of Ioannina and the government of King Zog I of Albania . Today it possesses five towers and houses a clock tower, a church, water fountains, horse stables, and many more amenities. The northern part of the castle was turned into a prison by Zog's government and housed political prisoners during the communist regime. Gjirokastër features an old Ottoman bazaar which

2080-449: The 2011 census, which has been widely disputed due to irregularities in the procedure and its data affected by boycott, the percentages of the local population per religious group are: Islam 42,3%, Bektashis 5,3%, Eastern Orthodox 14,6%, Roman Catholics 2,8%, while a 35,2 had not declared any religion or is non-religious. According to the Gjirokastër county census data (which includes other municipalities besides Gjirokastër), it had

2160-492: The 5th-6th centuries CE during the period of Slavic migrations to the Balkans . It was expanded in the 9th-10th centuries, while the first signs of actual settlement medieval urban development in the castle area date to the 13th-14th centuries. During this period, Gjirokastër developed into a center known in medieval sources as Argyropolis (Medieval Greek: Ἀργυρόπολις , meaning "Silver City") or Argyrokastron (Medieval Greek: Ἀργυρόκαστρον , meaning "Silver Castle"). The city

2240-575: The Italian ruler of Ioannina, Esau de' Buondelmonti who was allied to the Ottomans, gathered an army made up of troops from Ioannina, Zagori, Dryinoupolis and Gjirokastër and the Mazaraki and Malakasi clans and marched against Gjon Zenebishi. He was ambushed, defeated and captured along with other lords from Ioannina by Zenebishi near Dhivër . The victory secured the city of Gjirokastër for Gjon Zenebishi and it became his capital. In 1417 Gjon Zenebishi died and

2320-535: The Ottomans in 1418, a year after's Gjon's death and it became the seat of the Sanjak of Albania . Throughout the Ottoman era, Gjirokastër was officially known in Ottoman Turkish as Ergiri and also Ergiri Kasrı . During the Ottoman period conversions to Islam and an influx of Muslim converts from the surrounding countryside made Gjirokastër go from being an overwhelmingly Christian city in the 16th century into one with

2400-532: The Protection of National Minorities stated that "the results of the census should be viewed with the utmost caution and calls on the authorities not to rely exclusively on the data on nationality collected during the census in determining its policy on the protection of national minorities". The region was part of the Eastern Orthodox diocese of Dryinoupolis , part of the metropolitan bishopric of Ioannina. It

2480-472: The age 0 to 14, 69.24% from 15 to 64, and 13.98% who were 65 years of age or older. As far as the city itself is concerned, the population was spread out, with 16.93% from the age 0 to 14, 70.27% from 15 to 64, and 12.78% who were 65 years of age or older. The results of the 2011 census were affected by a boycott by minorities. The European Council 's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for

Women in Albania - Misplaced Pages Continue

2560-526: The alphabetization of the population, but also the promotion of socialist ideology in schools. As of 2015, the literacy rate of women was only slightly below that of men: 96.9% female compared to 98.4% male. In recent years, Albania has taken steps to address the issue of violence against women . This included enacting the Law No. 9669/2006 (Law on Measures against Violence in Family Relations) and ratifying

2640-610: The area around Gjirokastër were the ancient Greek tribe of the Chaonians , which belonged to the Epirote group. In antiquity the local urban centre was located in Antigonia , c. 5 kilometres (3 mi) from modern Gjirokastër on the opposite bank of river Drino. Gjirokastër first developed on the hill where the castle of the city is located in the Middle Ages. The first fortification dates to

2720-424: The building contains a cistern and the stable. The upper storey is composed of a guest room and a family room containing a fireplace. Further upper stories are to accommodate extended families and are connected by internal stairs. Since Gjirokastër's membership to UNESCO, a number of houses have been restored, though others continue to degrade. Many houses in Gjirokastër have a distinctive local style that has earned

2800-421: The castle), and six additional neighborhoods: Palorto, Vutosh, Dunavat, Manalat, Haxhi Bey, and Memi Bey, extending on eight hills around the castle. According to the traveller, the city had at that time around 2000 houses, eight mosques, three churches, 280 shops, five fountains, and five inns. From the 16th century until the early 19th century Gjirokastër went from being a predominantly Christian city to one with

2880-529: The city as an industrial and commercial centre. It was elevated to the status of a museum town, as it was the birthplace of the leader of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania , Enver Hoxha , who had been born there in 1908. His house was converted into a museum. The demolition of the monumental statue of the authoritarian leader Enver Hoxha in Gjirokastër by members of the local Greek community in August 1991 marked

2960-407: The city itself was first mentioned in the 12th century, the majority of the existing buildings date from 17th and 18th centuries. Typical houses consist of a tall stone block structure which can be up to five stories high. There are external and internal staircases that surround the house. It is thought that such design stems from fortified country houses typical in southern Albania. The lower storey of

3040-488: The city the nickname "City of Stone", because most of the old houses have roofs covered with flat dressed stones. A very similar style can be seen in the Pelion district of Greece. The city, along with Berat , was among the few Albanian cities preserved in the 1960s and 1970s from modernizing building programs. Both cities gained the status of "museum town" and are UNESCO World Heritage sites . Gjirokastër Fortress dominates

3120-609: The city, created in 1988, promotes trade with the Greek border areas. As part of the financial support from Greece to Albania, the Hellenic Armed Forces built a hospital in the city. In recent years, many traditional houses are being reconstructed and owners lured to come back, thus revitalizing tourism as a potential revenue source for the local economy. However, some houses continue to degrade from lack of investment, abandonment or inappropriate renovations as local craftsmen are not part of these projects. In 2010, following

3200-609: The communist Party of Labour . Traditional Gheg Albanian culture was based on the 500-year-old Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini , a traditional Gheg code of conduct, where the main role of women was to take care of the children and to take care of the home. According to a column in The Literary World in 1878, Albanian women were allowed to carry arms. Edith Durham noted in 1928 that Albanian village women were more conservative in maintaining traditions, such as revenge calling, similar to women in ancient Greece. Prior to World War II , it

3280-454: The communist period, Gjirokastër was designated a "museum city" due to its architectural heritage. In more recent years, the city witnessed anti-government protests that led to the 1997 Albanian civil unrest . Along with Muslim and Orthodox Albanians , the city is also home to a substantial Greek minority, and some Aromanians , Romani and Balkan Egyptians . The city is a centre for the Greek minority in Albania. The city appeared for

Women in Albania - Misplaced Pages Continue

3360-642: The company of men while being treated like a man. The women in central Albania, particularly the women in Elbasan and the nearby regions, are known to cook the sweet tasting ballakume during the Dita e Verës , an annual spring festival celebrated on 14 March. On the other hand, Muslim Albanian women, particularly women from the Islamic Bektashi sect cook pudding known as the ashura from ingredients such as cracked wheat, sugar, dried fruit, crushed nuts, and cinnamon, after

3440-401: The cosmopolitan city elite, and had little effect in the lives of the majority of women in Albania. Limited women's suffrage was granted in 1920, and women obtained full voting rights in 1945. Under the communist government of Albania , an official ideology of gender equality was promoted and promoted by Union of Albanian Women . In the first democratic election after the fall of communism,

3520-524: The country had the second-highest maternal mortality rate in all of Europe, and it was estimated that 50% of all pregnancies ended in an abortion. During the communist era women entered in paid employment in large numbers. The transition period in Albania has been marked by rapid economic changes and instability. The labour market faces many of the problems that are common to most transition economies, such as loss of jobs in many sectors, that were not sufficiently compensated by emerging new sectors. As of 2011,

3600-427: The county as a whole had a total of 72,176 inhabitants. The population of the municipality included the urban and rural population in its Administrative Units such as: Antigonë , Cepo , Lazarat , Lunxhëri , Odrie and Picar . The city of Gjirokastër itself had a resident population of 19,836 inhabitants, who were a predominantly urban population. In the municipality, the population was spread out, with 16.76% from

3680-477: The day-by-day struggles of women of Gjirokastër, and describes the prevailing mores of the region. Gjirokastër, home to both Albanian and Greek polyphonic singing, is also home to the National Folklore Festival ( Albanian : Festivali Folklorik Kombëtar ) that is held every five years. The festival started in 1968 and was most recently held in 2009, its ninth season. The festival takes place on

3760-643: The early 1990s during the political transition from communism. The term usually denotes to the northern half of the country inhabited by the Ghegs , who predominantly live in the mountainous north of the Shkumbin river. 42°N 20°E  /  42°N 20°E  / 42; 20 This article about a specific Albanian location is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Gjirokast%C3%ABr Gjirokastër ( Albanian: [ɟiɾoˈkast:əɾ, -ra] , Albanian definite form : Gjirokastra )

3840-471: The end of the one-party state It was the last statue in Albania to be demolished during the Fall of Communism in Albania , which happened in 28 July 1991, 5 months after the rest of the statues that were demolished since February and marked the end of the one-party state. Gjirokastër suffered severe economic problems following the end of communist rule in 1991. In the spring of 1993, the region of Gjirokastër became

3920-426: The first time in historical records under its medieval name of Argyrókastron ( Medieval Greek : Αργυρόκαστρον ), as mentioned by John VI Kantakouzenos in 1336. The name comes from argyrón (Medieval Greek: ἀργυρόν , lit.   'silver'), and kástron (Medieval Greek: κάστρον ), derived from Latin castrum , meaning "castle" or "fortress"; thus "silver castle". Byzantine chronicles also used

4000-441: The former municipality at the 2011 census was 19,836. Gjirokastër is situated between the lowlands of western Albania and the highlands of the interior, and has thus a hot-summer Mediterranean climate , though, (as is normal for Albania), much heavier rainfall than usual for this climate type. Gjirokastër is principally a commercial center with some industries, notably the production of foodstuffs, leather, and textiles. Recently

4080-437: The highest percentage of atheists compared to all other counties in Albania, with Vlora being the second (6.3% compared to 6.01%). 17th-century Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi, who visited the city in 1670, described the city in detail. One Sunday, Çelebi heard the sound of a vajtim , the traditional Albanian lament for the dead, performed by a professional mourner. The traveller found the city so noisy that he dubbed Gjirokastër

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4160-523: The historical record dating back in 1336 by its medieval Greek name, Αργυρόκαστρο , Argyrókastro , as part of the Byzantine Empire . It first developed in the hill where the Gjirokastër Fortress is located. In this period, Gjirokastër was contested between the Despotate of Epirus and the Albanian clan of Zenebishi under Gjon Zenebishi who made it his capital in 1417. It was taken by

4240-530: The local Greek population, and their representatives under Georgios Christakis-Zografos formed the Panepirotic Assembly in Gjirokastër in protest. The Assembly, short of incorporation with Greece, demanded either local autonomy or an international occupation by forces of the Great Powers for the districts of Gjirokastër, Sarandë , and Korçë . In April 1939, Gjirokastër was occupied by Italy following

4320-615: The majority population of Gjirokastër, while a small number of Greek-speaking families lived there. Given its Greek minority, the city was claimed and taken by Greece during the First Balkan War of 1912–1913, following the retreat of the Ottomans from the region. However, it was awarded to Albania under the terms of the Treaty of London of 1913 and the Protocol of Florence of 17 December 1913. This turn of events proved highly unpopular with

4400-504: The name of city is Gjirokastra , while in the Gheg Albanian dialect it is known as Gjinokastër , both of which derive from the Greek name. During the Ottoman era , the town was known in Turkish as Ergiri . The Phrygian period of the region spanned from around 1150 BCE to around 850 BCE. Hammond argues that the region was checkered with a mosaic of small Phrygian principalities, with

4480-420: The number of women deputies in parliament fell from 75 in the last parliament of communist Albania to 9. In a turbulent period after 1991 the position of women worsened. There is a religious revival among Albanians which in the case of Muslims sometimes means that women are pushed back to the traditional role of mother and housekeeper. As of 2013 women represented 22.9% of the parliament. The total fertility rate

4560-752: The organization Perlindja in Korçë, which published the newspaper Mbleta . In 1920, Marie Çoba founded the local women's organization Gruaja Shqiptare in Shkodër, which was followed by several other local organizations with the same name in Korçë , Vlorë and Tiranë . In 1920 Urani Rumbo and others founded Lidhja e Gruas (the Women's Union) in Gjirokastër , one of the most important feminist organisations promoting Albanian women's emancipation and right to study. They published

4640-506: The possibility of an anti-Ottoman armed struggle, but this initiative was fruitless. According to Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi , who visited the city in 1670, at that time there were 200 houses within the castle, 200 in the Christian eastern neighborhood of Kyçyk Varosh (meaning small neighborhood outside the castle), 150 houses in the Byjyk Varosh (meaning big neighborhood outside

4720-448: The premises of Gjirokastër Fortress. Gjirokastër is also where the Greek language newspaper Laiko Vima is published. Founded in 1945, it was the only Greek-language printed media allowed during the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. The city is built on the slope surrounding the citadel, located on a dominating plateau. Although the city's walls were built in the third century and

4800-469: The principality of Gjirokastër and the surrounding region having its center at Vodhinë . In the later part of the period, it appears there was a change of dynasty at Vodhine. Archaeologists have found pottery artifacts dating to the early Iron Age , crafted in a style that first appeared in the late Bronze Age in Pazhok , Elbasan County , and is found throughout Albania . The earliest recorded inhabitants of

4880-531: The seat of the Sanjak of Albania . During the Albanian Revolt of 1432–36 it was besieged by forces under Depë Zenebishi , but the rebels were defeated by Ottoman troops led by Turahan Bey . In 1570s local nobles Manthos Papagiannis and Panos Kestolikos, discussed as Greek representative of enslaved Greece and Albania with the head of the Holy League , John of Austria and various other European rulers,

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4960-476: The similar name Argyropolýchni (Medieval Greek: Αργυροπολύχνη , lit.   'silver town'). The theory that the city took the name of the Princess Argjiro , a legendary figure about whom 19th-century author Kostas Krystallis and Ismail Kadare wrote novels, is considered folk etymology , since the princess is said to have lived later, in the 15th century. The definite Albanian form of

5040-478: The town and overlooks the strategically important route along the river valley. It is open to visitors and contains a military museum featuring captured artillery and memorabilia of the Communist resistance against German occupation, as well as a captured United States Air Force plane forced down by Anastas Ngjela , to commemorate the Communist regime's struggle against the imperialist powers. Additions were built during

5120-508: The town causing the Ottoman government to comply with rebel terms. After the fall of the pashalik in 1868, the city was the capital of the sanjak of Ergiri. On 23 July 1880, southern Albanian committees of the League of Prizren held a congress in the city, in which was decided that if Albanian-populated areas of the Ottoman Empire were ceded to neighbouring countries, they would revolt. During

5200-400: The town is Greek. Gjirokastër is considered a center of the Greek community in Albania . A Greek consulate is in the town. The Romani and Balkan Egyptians settled in Gjirokastër in 1967 and inhabit the Zinxhiraj neighbourhood, numbering 150 families. In 2000, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) estimated the Romani and Balkan Egyptians compose 3.4 percent of

5280-465: The town's population. Post–communism, some Aromanians from Lunxhëri migrated to Greece, and after returning to Albania, they chose to settle in Gjirokastër instead of their former villages. By population, Gjirokastër is the largest municipality in the Gjirokastër County . According to INSTAT , based on the 2011 Census, Gjirokastër Municipality was estimated to have 28,673 residents (a density of 53.91 persons/km2) living in 6,919 housing units, while

5360-456: The traditional set of values of the kanun . The urbanization of Albania is low compared to other European countries: 57.4% of the total population (2015). Although forced marriage is generally disapproved by society, it is a "well known phenomenon in the country, especially in rural and remote areas," and girls and women in these areas are "very often forced into marriages because of [a] patriarchal mentality and poverty". Abortion in Albania

5440-439: Was an important centre of Islamic culture. In early March 1908, the binbashi of Gjirokastër was assassinated by Çerçiz Topulli and his followers. The Albanians of the city during 1909–1912 were split between two groups: the urban liberals who wanted to cooperate with the Greeks and Albanian nationalists who formed guerilla bands operating in the countryside. During the 19th and early 20th century, Albanian speaking Muslims were

5520-408: Was common for some Gheg Albanian women to become "live-in concubines" of men living in mountain areas. Having daughters is less favoured within the patriarchal society of Gheg Albanians. Due to the giving of greater importance to the desire of having sons than bearing daughters, it is customary that for pregnant Albanian women to be greeted with the phrase " të lindtë një djalë ", meaning "May it be

5600-470: Was damaged by unknown attackers, but subsequently restored. The present municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities of Antigonë , Cepo , Gjirokastër, Lazarat , Lunxhëri , Odrie and Picar , that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Gjirokastër. The total population is 28,673 (2011 census), in a total area of 469.55 km (181.29 sq mi). The population of

5680-435: Was erected in the city in 1663. It was sponsored by local merchants and functioned under the supervision of the local bishop. In 1821, when the Greek War of Independence broke out, it was destroyed, but it was reopened in 1830. In 1727 a madrasa started to function in the city, and it worked uninterruptedly for 240 years until 1967, when it was closed due to the Cultural Revolution applied in communist Albania. In 1861–1862

5760-470: Was first mentioned in a notitia of the 10th–11th century. With the destruction of nearby Adrianupolis its see was transferred to Gjirokastër and assumed the name Doecese of Dryinopoulis and Argyrokastron ( Greek : Δρυϊνουπόλεως και Αργυροκάστρου ). In 1835 it was promoted to metropolitan bishopric under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople . Today, the city

5840-546: Was founded in Korçë by Sevasti Qiriazi and Parashqevi Qiriazi and in 1909 they founded the first women's organization in Albania, the Morning Star ( Yll’i Mëngesit ) with the purpose of raising the rights of women by raising their education level. The women's movement in Albania was interrupted by the First World War , but resumed when Albania became an independent nation after the war. The Qiriazi sisters founded

5920-476: Was fully legalized on December 7, 1995. Abortion can be performed on demand until the 12th week of pregnancy. Women must undergo counseling for a week prior to the procedure, and hospitals that perform abortions are not allowed to release information to the public regarding which women they have treated. During the government of Enver Hoxha , communist Albania had a natalist policy, leading women to have illegal abortions or to induce them on their own. Eventually

6000-536: Was known from the local Albanians. According to him, its chief city Gjirokastër numbered about 2000 Muslim families and about 100 Christian families. While Libohovë , also then part of the same region, numbered half of that number with about 1000 Muslim families and 100 Christian families. In 1925, Albania became the world center of the Bektashi Order , a Muslim sect. The sect was headquartered in Tirana , and Gjirokastër

6080-541: Was one of six districts of the Bektashi Order in Albania, with its center at the tekke of Baba Rexheb . The city retains a large Bektashi and Sunni population. Historically there were 15 tekkes and mosques , of which 13 were functional in 1945. Only Gjirokastër Mosque has survived; the remaining 12 were destroyed or closed during the Cultural Revolution of the communist government in 1967. According to

6160-456: Was originally built in the 17th century; it was rebuilt in the 19th century after a fire. There are more than 500 homes preserved as "cultural monuments" in Gjirokastër today. The Gjirokastër Mosque , built in 1757, dominates the bazaar. When the town was first proposed for inclusion on the World Heritage list in 1988, International Council on Monuments and Sites experts were nonplussed by

6240-474: Was part of the Despotate of Epirus and was first mentioned by the name Argyrokastro by John VI Kantakouzenos in 1336. That year Argyrokastro was among the cities that remained loyal to the Byzantine Emperor during a local Epirote rebellion in favour to Nikephoros II Orsini . The Albanian Zenebishi clan, which held Gjirokastër by the end of the century, is first mentioned in 1304 as land holders in

6320-424: Was protected by the state under the national state organization Gruaja Shiqiptare , which promoted a progressive policy and secured women the right to education and professional life and a ban against the seclusion of women in harems and behind veils; equal inheritance rights, divorce, and a ban against arranged and forced marriages as well as polygamy. However, in practice this progressive policy only concerned

6400-468: Was succeeded by his son Simon as lord of Gjirokastër in early 1418. Immediately, the Ottomans besieged the city. Simon left the city during the siege to seek refuge in Ioannina and returned back when the Ottoman siege failed, but nevertheless he eventually surrendered Gjirokastër to the Ottomans. With the acquisition of Gjirokastër, the area became known as Zenebish-ili (land of Zenebishi) and by 1419 became

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