Crime in Albania
Crime in Albania is moderate, but occurs in various forms. A crime is described as an act against the Albanian Penal Code for which there are judicial consequences such as punishments or fines.
Causal factors and attributes
There are many socio-cultural and socio-political factors connected to the criminal culture and statistics in Albania and amongst Albanians which is based on religious and cultural factors, such family relations and the former
Origin
The first traces of criminality being handled within a system of codes, in the present day area of Albania, was in the 15th-century where the
Crime during the Ottoman and Medieval period
As the
Crime in the 20th century
Albanian law was first officially applicable to Albanian citizens in 1912 after the Albanian declaration of independence. The government approved the decision of "the new organization of justice" on May 10, 1913. With the decision of the Conference of Ambassadors in London, and with Prince
Today
Much of the crimes committed today are tied to the Albanian mafia both in Albania, but also in other European countries. The cocaine market in the UK is owned by the Albanian mafia.[11] There are also problems with Albanian media portraying murders as "blood feuds" and many who are arrested suspected of murder use the phrase "I did it for blood feud" thus complicating forensic investigations. There also signs of "blood feud certificates" where civilians purchase certificates by corrupt officials in order to apply for asylum in European countries with complicated stories of blood feuds. Albanian authorities are however quick to file reports and initiate prosecutions, with serious penalty, thus lowering the murder rate. However, a change of culture is needed in order to eradicate the phenomenon, requiring roughly 25 years.[citation needed]
There is also a cultural phenomenon of how organized crime is portrayed in modern-day media, with Albanians being portrayed as mainly antagonists. Organized crimes is defined by UN as "a structured group of three or more persons, existing for a period of time and acting in concert with the aim of committing one or more serious crimes or offences established in accordance with this Convention, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit".[12] Albanian organized crime has become a transnational phenomenon with ties in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and the Italian and Colombian mafia as well. Much of the organized crimes is based on families with consanguinity belonging to the same clan and village. The networks are made of "people of the village" which discourages dropouts. Organized crime in Albania has also expanded on the European heroin market which has led media corporates displaying Albanian criminals' main objectives as drug trafficking, human trafficking, car trafficking and money laundering. Albanian authorities have been criticized by the international community because they do not hinder criminal activities. In 2013, The U.S. Department of state pointed out in a report the necessity of the implementation of laws and convictions of suspects. The Albanian authorities have decreased anti-trafficking law enforcements as a result of a lack of evidence. Family ties and nepotism and favouritism is seen as a possible factor in the corruption amongst Albanian officials in the court system resulting in difficulties in investigations which has put Albania in the 116th place of 175 countries in accordance to the Corruption Perception Index. Money laundering helps syndicates diversify their revenues, which is a result of the fall of communism, which allowed for organized crime to penetrate into politics. In May, 2019, the Albanian government was criticized for having links to the organized crime.[13]
See also
References
- ^ CRIMINAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA KODI PENAL I REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË (PDF) (Law No. 7895, dated 27 January 1995 ed.). Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Arsovska, Jana (2007). Social Confusion on the Road to Modernity: The Meaning of (PDF). Final results of a 2006 CERGE-EI GDN Project June, 2007. pp. 7, 11.
- ^ Xhaxho, Sokol (2018). The Phenomenon of Blood feud Among Albanians and its impact on Children. Lund University: Lund University, Department of Sociology. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Office, Home (2018). Country Policy and Information Note Albania: Blood feuds (PDF). London. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "The influence of Ottoman rule on Albanian political sociology :: Center for Islamic Pluralism". www.islamicpluralism.org.
- ^ Crime, Punishment and Forensic Expertise According to the Albanian Tradition - A Commentary on the Native Customary Law (PDF). 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- doi:10.4000/ceb.3520. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ "History of Albanian Prosecution". www.pp.gov.al.
- ^ Imholz, Kathleen (2000). "Albania's Evolving Socialist Party: Some Comments on Postcommunist Party Development and Pluralism". East European Constitutional Review. 9: 82.
- ISBN 9781351644891. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Weaver, Matthew (29 June 2017). "Albanian gangs have significant control over UK cocaine market, says crime agency". The Guardian.
- ^ Siarhei, Kastrama. The pattern of Albanian organized crime in cinema. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ "Albania government denies links to organised crime". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 November 2019.