The figure of national cause activist Ekrem Jashari was honored today in a commemorative meeting held in Ferizaj. After a serious illness, Jashari passed away on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 74.
At the memorial gathering held to honor his life and legacy, it was said that his name is etched in the history of Kosovo’s liberation. Ekrem Jashari was described as a strong pillar of the national cause.
The Mayor of Ferizaj, Agim Aliu, said that future generations will find Jashari’s name, sacrifice, and courage in the pages of history.
“He was the name that carved traces in our history of liberation. Ekrem Jashari was an early activist of the national cause, a founder and organizer of the first ranks of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in Ferizaj and beyond… Wherever our emblem of freedom—the KLA—was present, Uncle Ekrem was there too. Tireless and courageous as always, even as age weighed on him, his word always carried weight. Ferizaj is proud of the rare comrade-in-arms we had among us, for the name that laid the foundation of our freedom’s glory, for his soul that always beat for Kosovo, for Albania, and for the unification of the nation… Today’s and future generations will find his name in the chronicles of history and in the pages of freedom—his sacrifice and the courage he embodied,” said Aliu.
The head of the KLA Veterans Organization in Ferizaj, Afrim Mehmeti, said Jashari, along with his comrades, founded the first KLA cells in Ferizaj.
“With the passing of Uncle Ekrem, not only Ferizaj but our entire people lost one of the strongest pillars of national activism. A man who, under difficult conditions, took upon himself the heavy burden of organization and preparation for liberation. In 1993, when the word ‘liberation’ was uttered with fear and the path to freedom seemed distant, Uncle Ekrem was among the first to raise his head. In coordination with his comrades, he took steps and founded the first KLA cells in Ferizaj. It was his courage and commitment that lit the light at the end of the dark tunnel of Serbian occupation. He was not just an organizer—he was an inspiration,” he said.
The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), Ali Ahmeti, said that Ekrem Jashari remains part of the foundation of the state of Kosovo, having left his mark on modern Albanian history.
“Ekrem Jashari was an idealistic teacher, forged into a fighter for his national mission. The mission of an idealistic teacher was to open paths that had not yet been opened—and he did that. He recruited generations, inspired generations until the formation of the KLA. Uncle Ekrem’s activism was not confined to the geography of the locality where he worked—it extended across all Albanian lands. He left his mark on modern Albanian history. He is part of the construction and founding of the state of Kosovo. He is part of the contributions made for the constitutional recognition of Albanians in the Republic of North Macedonia. Borders for Ekrem Jashari did not exist. So, brothers and sisters, you—his family—have lost a loved one, but we have lost a great activist and comrade-in-arms, the unforgettable Ekrem Jashari,” he said.
His niece, Shqipe Jashari, expressed that before passing, Jashari carried a longing—to see a united Albania.
“Throughout his life, he worked and acted for the liberation of the homeland, but he left with one longing—to see a united Albania, a natural Albania. May your dream come true, Uncle. May the soil of Kosovo rest lightly upon you,” she said.
In addition, tributes were held in the premises of the Art Gallery in Ferizaj to honor the activist for the national cause, Ekrem Jashari, who passed away a few days ago at the age of 74. The burial ceremony will take place at 17:00 at the Veterans’ Cemetery in the city of Ferizaj.
