Chapter V - The apparatus of repression

Summary

Agitation and propaganda of a fascist, anti-democratic, religious, war-inciting, anti-socialist nature as well as the preparation, distribution or storage with the aim of distribution, of literature with content aiming to weaken or overthrow the state's proletarian dictatorship will be punished by: imprisonment for three to ten years. These actions, if conducted during wartime or leading to especially serious results, shall be punished by imprisonment for no less than 10 years or the death penalty.

The idea of introducing a modern legal structure similar to those in Western Europe into the Albanian reality appeared in the 1920s. The new penal code came into life in June 1927, replacing the previously used Ottoman code from 1879. The introduction of the new code was preceded by the act of 1925 which sharpened the punishment for political crimes, as well as for “activities of propaganda” directed against the state or against the “head of state.” The Code of 1927 was based on Italian law and was extended in 1932 with the Military Penal Code. Before censorship was increased in 1937, the press published examples of excesses in particular ministries. The Ministry of Justice was heavily criticised, as it was accused of unjustified suspension of investigations into murders. The effectiveness of justice was burdened by the spectre of Kanun (Albanian customary law), which meant that judges were personally responsible for sentences, although they issued them on behalf of the state.