Genc Leka, poet, was born in Bërzeshtë in Librazhd. He received his first lessons in his native village. Between 1959 and 1962, he studied at the Pedagogical School of Elbasan. From 1962 to 1966, when he was fired, he worked as a teacher in the remote areas of Librazhd. In the years 1967-1968, he performed military service in a work brigade in Sopot, Librazhd and Cërrik. After finishing his military service, he worked on a farm and in a forestry company, where he only did manual labor. He was arrested on August 31, 1976, and after eleven months of torture in the Librazhd interrogation office, he was accused of “sabotage and agitation and propaganda” and on June 13, 1977, he was sentenced to death by firing squad. In 1994, the President of the Republic awarded him the “Martyr of Democracy” decoration. One of Librazhd’s 9-year schools was named after him a year later. He was awarded the “Teacher of the People” decoration the same year. In 2010, the President of the Republic awarded him the “Honour of the Nation ” decoration. (In the photo: Genc Leka)
Text: Bedri Blloshmi, Confessions from communist hell , “Almera”, Tirana, 2011, pages 287-288.
Photo: © Albanian Telegraphic Agency
Graphic processing: AHCF
