An answer from Monika Stafa, from the "clan" of Frashërlinje

 Ms. Monika Stafa's writing at first glance looks like a general and innocent writing, with promotional notes for Thomas Frashëri's book; while it is not like that at all, as has been noticed in the title of the article, "Frashellij as a clan"(!)

One meaning of the word "clan" is that of the grouping of tribes in antiquity. We often hear historians use the term: ancient, ancient clans or tribes, etc. I would like to remind the author that we are in the 21st century AD, 2023 to be exact, and not the Bronx Age.

While in today's times this term is also used to describe a narrow group with common interests, often occult and unknown to the public.

We all know that this term has been excessively abused in the last three decades, as in the media or even in daily conversations we often hear terms such as interest clans, mafia clans, etc. being used. So, in the collective imagination, or in the Albanian mentality, this term love without love has acquired negative connotations and colors, so I would advise to be more careful in the selection of terms.

In another part of the article, it is said that they converted to Islam for personal benefits and convenience! While they did not have an easy way to their knowledge and renaissance activity, selling what they had, to secure the income for their education.

The Ottoman Empire ruled for almost five centuries in the territory of Albania and we cannot say that the conversion to Islam happened during their generation. They were born in a certain context where a certain religion prevailed, in a very critical and difficult period, in which we had to react and work hard for the future of the motherland.

Without their extraordinary contribution, the existence of the Albanian Nation and State itself would be endangered, since the main criterion for recognizing a Nation or State is the Alphabet and the Written Language.

Many questions and theses are raised in this article, which have not received sufficient answers, and in some cases they contradict themselves, for example, it is said that its purpose is not to talk about the Frashëri brothers, when in fact in most of the article , refers to them.

This article also states: "The development of Frashëri until the first half of the 19th century is closely related to the cooperation that the Frashëri themselves had with the Ottoman ruler. But this weakness, if we will call it that, they do not want to bring it to mind. And they don't want to talk about it at all."

We come across a terminological misuse again. The term "collaboration" (which has been used several times) seriously damages the figures of the Frashëri brothers, who are the pride and identity of the Nation.

In their patriotic activity they have suffered the persecutions and imprisonments of the High Gate. Abdyli suffered exile together with his family in Balliqeser and Bandërma in Anatolia, likewise Mehmeti, the younger brother, spent years in exile in Çanakala. His two children, Hysref and Irfan Frashëri, were also born in exile.

The persecution follows them even today as a sophisticated red thread, the origin of which is the year 1943 in the Mukje Conference, with the decision to hit large families, a fact confirmed by the Archives and affirmed by honest Albanian historians, as the honorable Pascal Milo.

In 1973, Emin Erer, nephew of Sami Frashër, son of his only daughter, came to Tirana to visit Albania and meet his blood cousins. The government of the time enabled a meeting in the premises of the former Hotel Dajti. For more detailed information, you can refer to the natural heirs, who surprisingly were not even invited to the ceremony of returning the remains to Mit'hat Frashër's homeland, but had to take care of the participation themselves.

In another paragraph, the questions about Naim Frashëri are surprisingly posed as a play on words: "Albanian poet, Persian poet, Albanian-Persian poet, Albanian-Persobektashian poet or something else" (??!!)

We can answer with this poem by Naim:

"Language that the gods speak."

The Pelasgians speak it;

Albanians have it,

As the first ones had it

She spoke Greek,

Latin came from there.

Our sons are the Elins

Even the Latins

Even all Europeans,

Qi dual from the Romans.

We are first,

In Europe from any seed.

'All the world come here,

God was in Tomor,

They prayed to God,

To the God of Albania"

Let the Albanians themselves and Albania judge for these.

*The author Dr. Dritan Mardodaj is the son of the Frashëri family, (Nahide Shkodra Frashëri). He graduated from the University of Parma in Cultural Heritage and has a Master of Science in Art History and Criticism from the University of Milan.