Abedin Dino Killed by Order of the Ottoman Sultan in Preveza on May 9, 1906

Abedin Dino was killed on May 9, 1906, in Preveza under an order attributed to the Ottoman Sultan, marking a violent and controversial moment in Albanian National Awakening history.

 

Abedin Dino, born in Preveza in Chameria, was one of the most influential Albanian political and diplomatic figures of the late 19th century. He played a key role in the founding of the League of Prizren and was closely connected with the Albanian National Awakening movement alongside prominent intellectuals and activists such as Abdyl Frashëri and Sami Frashëri. His political work extended to the Committee of Janina and the organization of the Preveza Assembly, where he advocated for Albanian rights and autonomy within the declining Ottoman Empire.

Beyond diplomacy, Dino was also active in armed resistance. On February 12, 1878, during clashes with Greek armed groups landing near Saranda, he reportedly took up arms and led local resistance efforts to defend Albanian-inhabited territories in southern regions including Saranda, Delvina, and Konispol. His involvement in both political and military resistance made him a prominent target of Ottoman authorities during a period of rising nationalist tensions across the Balkans.

Historians note that his execution reflects the broader suppression of Albanian nationalist movements during the late Ottoman period, when demands for language rights, cultural recognition, and political autonomy were increasingly met with force. His legacy remains tied to the struggle for Albanian national identity and independence, and he is remembered as part of the foundational generation of Albanian political activism in the 19th century.