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| Polish fans making obscene gestures at the bust of the national hero Skanderbeg in the center of Tirana |
This was not just vandalism. It was an insult to every Albanian, to our ancestors, and to the centuries of sacrifice that Skanderbeg represents. And yet, instead of punishing those who carried out this shameful act, our own police arrested the very Albanian youths who stood up to defend the honor of their country.
A small group of young men, driven by patriotism and love for their homeland, confronted the offenders. They did what any proud nation’s sons would do—react when their hero and their symbol were desecrated. And for this, they are sitting in prison, accused of violence, while the real aggressors walk free.
What does this say about us as a people? Imagine for a moment if such an incident had taken place in Greece, in Italy, or in any other European country. Would the authorities arrest their own youth for defending their history? Never. There would be outrage, there would be unity, and there would be punishment for those who dared to offend the nation’s pride.
But in Albania, silence reigns. Too many are distracted by gossip, scandals, and meaningless entertainment while the name and figure of Skanderbeg are dragged through the mud. Our institutions proudly decorate themselves with his image on official buildings, yet fail to defend his monument in the capital. This is nothing but empty hypocrisy.
The young men who reacted should not be criminalized—they should be honored. They did what many of us wish we had the courage to do: to rise and say, “No one insults Albania and walks away freely.”
Skanderbeg belongs to every Albanian. To defend him is to defend ourselves, our identity, and our dignity as a people. Keeping those patriots behind bars is not just an injustice, it is a betrayal. They must be released, and they must be thanked.
Because when a nation stops defending its heroes, it stops defending itself.