On February 10, 105 years ago, Musine Kokalari was born – dissident, writer, activist, and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party of Albania. We remember Musine on this anniversary for her courage and the example she set in confronting the Enverist dictatorship – a confrontation that cost her 20 years in prison and isolation under the totalitarian regime. She stood up against the hegemony and monopoly of the one-party state, a party that insisted on uniform thinking and one-dimensional political activism according to its dictates, under a top-down concept of patriotism, love of country, and the common good. She resisted systemic violence, as well as patriarchal oppression, fighting against stereotypes toward women and girls. In Musine’s figure, three essential traits of political engagement and human freedom are embodied: intellect, determination, and resilience. She spoke (and wrote) what she believed, acted on her convictions, and lived in accordance with her words. “I don’t need to be a communist to love my country! I love my country even though I am not a communist. I want its progress. Even though you have won the war, even though you have won the elections, you cannot persecute those who have different political views than yours. I think differently from you, but I love my country. You are punishing me for my ideas. I will not apologize, because I have done nothing wrong.” – Musine Kokalari, in her defense before the court.
