Children in Albania trapped by blood feuds (Photo)

Disagreements known as blood feuds can spread to generations, digesting descendants who have nothing to do with the original insult or crime, a BBC script begins.

They are said to have a history, but blood feud remains strong these days. There are 68 families in the Shkodra region in northern Albania who are currently unable to leave their homes due to blood feuds.

“We have visited Nikon, a 13-year-old, in his small village in northern Albania. Niko has said it is “in blood”, in his own words, under the threat of death for “alleged” committed before he was born”.

“Nico lives with his grandparents and is in danger any time he leaves home. Tens of other families north of Shkodra in Albania also live in house arrest themselves imposed by fear of losing life”.

We've taken the road and gone by boat to visit Nikon, in the community isolated from the teacher, Lilian Lu Lion”.

Lady Lion specializes in teaching “for children in blood” teaches in their homes. Blood feuds mean that they cannot leave their homes, even to follow the lesson. Long-time blood feud rules have been codified in a book of laws called Kanun, dating back to the 15th century. The Kanun has helped bring order to the lives of tribes in northern Albania, virtually during the time it was under the occupation of the Ottoman Empire.

Lady Lion has said that the canon is often abused by those involved in blood feuds.

If they follow the canon laws... they shouldn't have killed children and women. But the days gone by neither the canon nor the laws of the state are being respected”, she said.

There were times when women and children were killed. I think the state law enforcement authorities would have to do more because they're not working properly”, The Lion said.

The blood feud involving Nikos' family began only shortly after the deep economic crisis in Albania caused by the collapse of such as pyramid schemes. Chaos caused the collapse of trust in state institutions and in justice.

The confusion of this family with another village family involved one land. A family member had killed a neighbor. This led to another confusion involving the community nearby.

From there, none of Nico's parents live in the family home, allowing him to grow up with grandparents near families' homes who are involved in confusion.

Mrs. Lion has indicated that Nico knows something about the confusion.

He listens to others talking about issues of involvement in confusion. But what he needs is to remain silent. But you can say he's angry. He knows he's at <x1-blood” and the expression goes that his life is in danger and that he needs to be careful.

Colonel Jovalin Loka, chief of police in the Shkodra region, has said he has done everything to prevent and investigate blood feuds, broadcast Klan Kosova.

“Intensively we are investigating the causes of possible murders as a result of blood feud”, he said.

And we've been involved with getting information about the preparations being made for breaking law”.

Colonel Loka complained that people were misusing the canon, adding: “different people interpret it in ways that it adapts. Could not be implemented correctly”

We are currently dealing with the modern laws of the state of Albania that are in line with the laws of Europe. Canon time is over. It must only be placed in the archive”.

There is a concession for continuing state reform, and justice institutions must advance in rooting out blood feuds in Albania.

Dr. Olsie Lelaj, an researcher at the Institute of Social Anthropology and Art Research in Tirana, Albania's capital, has said: “is not the problem of having strong state institutions rather than having only state institutions. It's a matter of justice and justice that's all divided into”.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Lion continues to worry about Nikos' future.

I think there's a problem that can be solved by all of us. I work hard with my parents, especially with mothers of children because mothers are those that learn and go beyond tolerance, forgiveness and how to forgive and not continue the cycle of violence.