Njazi Islami

Njazi Islami (1919 – 25 February 1951) was an Albanian communist politician and military commander. Biographical accounts identify him as having been appointed Minister of Communications after World War II and as later falling out with the communist leadership. Sources based on testimony from his family place his birth in Salari, Tepelenë, and state that he died in Tirana in 1951.

Early life and education

Islami was born in 1919 in the village of Salari, Tepelenë. According to the testimony of his wife, Nazmie Islami (Keçi), he was orphaned after the death of both parents and was raised by his uncle, Dervish Kita, in Tirana. In 1937, he and his cousin Mehdi Axhemi went to work in the oil sector at Kuçova, then run by an Italian company. During a workers’ demonstration there, he was described as one of the main organizers, after which he left for Tirana.

Following the Italian occupation of Albania, Islami became involved in the anti-fascist movement, established contact with the leadership of the Communist Party of Albania, and used the house he rented on Dibra Street as one of their bases. He was later arrested and imprisoned by the Italians, escaped from Tirana prison with the group of Koçi Xoxe, and went on to serve in partisan ranks, including as deputy commissar of the 6th Division.

Personal life

Njazi Islami was married to Nazmie Islami (Keçi).

Politics

World War II and anti-fascist activity

After the occupation of Albania, Islami became closely involved with the anti-fascist movement and established contact with the main leaders of the Communist Party of Albania. According to later biographical accounts, the house he rented on Dibra Street became one of the main bases of the senior communist leadership. He was then arrested and imprisoned by the Italians, and later escaped from Tirana prison with the group of Koçi Xoxe.

After escaping, he remained underground for a time and was later appointed commissar in a unit commanded by Haxhi Lleshi, where he fought in the Battle of Peshkopi. He subsequently held other senior posts in the partisan ranks, eventually becoming deputy commissar of the 6th Division, which fought as far as Višegrad in Yugoslavia.

Post-war political office

After World War II, Njazi Islami entered the postwar communist administration and was appointed Minister of Communications in 1945. Later biographical accounts also describe him as serving in the transport portfolio, though the available sources do not always use the same title for the office.

Conflict with the regime

By 1950, Islami had fallen out with the communist leadership. According to one biographical account, he was expelled from the Party and the Central Committee on 20–23 April 1950. A later source places his death in February 1951, after this break with the regime had already occurred.

Death

According to the testimony of his wife, Nazmie Islami (Keçi), Njazi Islami died on 25 February 1951 in Tirana, in the villa on Elbasan Street where the family was living at the time. She said he returned home shortly before the incident, after which gunshots were heard inside the house.