Dhërmi Church, locals against demolition

24/08/2015 00:00

Dhërmi inhabitants expressed their disapproval of the demolition of e local church in the village, which was crumbled by authorities as an illegal building. Accompanying the church priest they said they will protect it because it was built by them back in 1994, in the same place where communist regime destroyed the old one.

Local priest Thimjo Bixhili confirmed this version, but one of the residents said they cannot use concrete to build it, because it would not be similar to any other church in the village. Instead, he said, they should erect there a place for prayers, where people could light a candle.

The demolition of the church sparked over the weekend the latest clash between Albania and Greece. Athens criticized the municipality actions saying displacement of religious objects is not something a country which aspires to enter the European family would do. Albania considered this an interference on internal matters of the country and insisted that everything was done according to national and international laws and conventions.

Prime Minister Edi Rama also commented on the case, saying Athens interventions on such topics were more common, but have slowed down lately. “They still need time to understand that Albania does not accept tutelage any more”, he wrote during a social media Q&A with his followers.

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