Kinostudio against the clergy – Atheist Albania
55 years ago Albania was declared the first atheist country in the world. On this occasion the Institute for Democracy, Media & Culture (IDMC) organized a round-table: "Kinostudio against the Clergy".
The event was greeted by Mrs. Jonila Godole, Executive Director of IDMC. Mrs. Godole underlined the importance of this debate, saying she hoped other institutions will work together to find a solution for broadcasting these films taking for example countries with a similar dictatorial past. IDMC has made concrete recommendations on the topic.
"The denigrating propaganda of the Communist regime against the clergy was severe: the objects of religious cults were demolished, clergymen then were persecuted, imprisoned and executed. This kind of propaganda was reflected in many fields of art, especially in the production of Kinostudio films."
The guests were also greeted by Mr. Tobias Rüttershof, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, IDMC's main supporter in all its initiatives. He thanked the participants and the numerous students present, saying "it is important for young people to know and remember the past".
The debate continued with the representatives of religious institutions such as the Muslim Community, the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, the Bektashi Community, the Pro-Family and Life Coalition. Participants talked about the persecution of the clergy figures under the dictatorship and raised concerns regarding the message conveyed by these films.
"Purification of memory is a necessity, because the problem of the past is a topic that affects every layer of society. Knowing the past for the new generation is as essential as not forgetting it for everyone."
Also, representatives of institutions such as the Audiovisual Media Authority, the Institute for Studies on Crimes and Consequences of Communism, the Forum for Protection of Audiovisual Authors, the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents, the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, the Education and Public Information Commission, the Albanian Committee of Helsinki, the Department of Journalism at UT and members of the Managing Council of RTSH, proposed that together with IDMC they should join a working group which focuses on the compilation and approval of a draft law that clarifies how these types of films are broadcast in the future, how they are filtered and given relevant context.
The participants had the opportunity to see a photo exhibition with evidence of the persecution of the clergy during the dictatorial regime.
A special thanks goes to historian Mr. Pjerin Mirdita, an expert on historical issues of the Communist period, who in collaboration with IDMC and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation presented the exhibition "Light beyond Darkness" during the MEMORY DAYS in 2021.