Northern Albania has long been synonymous with breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and ancient traditions. Yet, beneath the scenic mountains and villages lies a shadowed history shaped by a centuries-old code: the Kanun. One of its most infamous elements is blood feuds, known locally as gjakmarrja, which have claimed countless lives and left entire communities in fear.
In recent years, the feud between the Hoxha and Lleshi families has emerged as one of the most tragic contemporary examples of this ancient practice. Journalist Aida Topalli has traced the harrowing series of events, revealing a story that spans more than a decade and spans both Albania and the UK.
The feud began, according to Topalli, when Agim Hoxha had a younger brother, Aurel Hoxha. In 2012, Aurel swore to channel all his wealth toward avenging perceived wrongs against the Lleshi family. This vow of vengeance marked the start of a relentless cycle of violence. The feud’s impact has been devastating: by 2025, several members of the Lleshi family, especially those close to Arben Lleshi, were either killed or forced to flee out of fear.
The Escalating Tragedy
The bloodshed escalated quickly. Xhavit Lleshi, a key figure in the Lleshi lineage, was murdered just one year after Agim Hoxha’s death. Years later, another brother, Hajredin Lleshi, was killed at his own doorstep. The horrors did not stop there: in 2020, Klevis Lleshi, Xhavit’s son, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Similarly, in 2017, Artan Lleshi, Hajredin’s son, vanished, and his fate remains unknown.
The cycle of revenge even extended into prisons. Two years ago, Arben Lleshi was killed in Peqin Prison by Sokol Mjacaj, demonstrating how the feud transcended both time and place, leaving no male relative of Arben unscathed.
Topalli characterized these clashes as a brutal example of wild blood vengeance, a practice sanctioned by the Kanun, the customary law that governs behavior, honor, and retribution in northern Albania. Under the Kanun, killing a member of another family often necessitates retaliation, creating cycles that may last generations.
Kanun and Its Influence
The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, codified centuries ago, remains influential in many northern Albanian communities. Central to the Kanun is the concept of honor (nderi), which can be restored only through revenge if wronged. While Albania has modernized and outlawed such practices, the cultural and psychological grip of these customs persists, especially in remote mountainous regions where state authority has historically been weaker.
Blood feuds often begin over minor disputes but escalate into long-lasting violence. Families may be forced to flee their homes, leaving behind property, lands, and livelihoods. Women and children frequently bear the consequences, often trapped in isolation while male members are targeted.
The Hoxha-Lleshi Case: A Modern Tragedy
The feud between the Hoxha and Lleshi families starkly illustrates how the Kanun can perpetuate multi-generational violence. What began in England eventually triggered a chain of events in Albania that claimed numerous lives and left communities shattered. As Topalli reports, “All male relatives of Arben Lleshi have been executed. Entire branches of the Lleshi family have disappeared or migrated due to the fear of revenge.”
These events underline the enduring power of blood vengeance in certain regions, despite legal and societal efforts to curtail it. The international Albanian community also feels the repercussions, as disputes that begin abroad can reignite ancient vendettas back home.
Breaking the Cycle
Efforts to end such feuds have included legal reforms, government intervention, and mediation by respected elders. However, changing deeply rooted cultural norms is a slow and challenging process. Education, dialogue, and community support remain critical to breaking cycles of revenge and preventing future tragedies.
The story of the Hoxha and Lleshi families is a haunting reminder of the human cost of maintaining honor through bloodshed. Beyond the statistics, each life lost represents a personal tragedy, a family destroyed, and a community scarred. The Kanun may remain a cultural artifact, but when misapplied, it transforms into a catalyst for modern-day horror.
Conclusion
The blood feud in northern Albania is not just a tale of past traditions but a current crisis that continues to impact lives. The Hoxha-Lleshi saga, meticulously documented by journalists like Aida Topalli, reveals how the Kanun’s legacy can ripple across generations, leaving no man untouched and no family safe.
As Albania continues its path toward modernization and integration with European legal standards, addressing the consequences of gjakmarrja remains both a social and moral imperative. The story of these families is a call to action—to preserve culture while ending the endless cycle of vengeance that has claimed far too many lives.