Halim Xhelo (1894-1937), activist of the democratic and communist movement, Hero of the People, passed away in Moscow. He was born in Tërbaç, Vlora. He finished high school in Corfu. He participated in the insurgent squad of Spiro Bellkameni (1911). After the Declaration of Independence, he worked as a teacher in the villages of Vlora. He gave his help in the creation of patriotic societies in 1918-1919. Helped in the preparation of the War of Vlora. In the years 1921-1924, Halim Xhelo was active in the press of the time for the spread of democratic ideas and for carrying out social reforms in Albania. He participated in the Democratic Revolution of June 1924 together with the youth of the “Bashkimi” society, in which he was a member. After the victory of the Revolution, he aligned himself with its radical wing and fought for deep reforms, criticizing the indecision of the democratic government. With the return of Ijaz Vrioni’s government to power, Halim Xhelo left Albania. In the years 1924-1927, he studied political and social sciences at the University of Florence. In 1928, he was appointed political editor of the “Liria Kombëtare” (The National Freedom”) newspaper, a position he held until the end. In exile he lived and worked in several countries: Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Germany. In the conditions of the growing fascist danger against Albania, Halim Xhelo and others made efforts in the ranks of disapora to create a popular front for the fight against fascism. Died in Moscow. (In the photo: Halim Xhelo)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2950.
Photo: © Xhoxhi L., personal archive
Graphic processing: AHCF
