Culturally and historically, clans in northern Albania are deeply rooted within Blood Feud conflicts. Belonging to one by blood, marriage, or association forces its members to abide by the traditional social code, called the “Kanun.”

.artist portrait
Laetitia Vancon

first published in:
issue 14, 02/2015

The Kanun is a defining feature of Albanian culture, based on the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, created by Lek Dukagjin in the 15th century to establish peace among quarreling clans of the mountainous region of present-day northern Albania. It attempted to regulate interpersonal interactions, a codified means of preserving cultural traditions and provides a framework to govern every aspect of life. The concept of honor is crucial to the Kanun, and Blood Feuds are the means of defending and re-establishing honor. They are part of a centuries-old Albanian system of reciprocal honor killings, which serve as a form of self-administered justice to absolve a loss of individual life or family honor. Those who do not seek blood retaliation for transgressions against their clan are considered to have fallen into social disgrace. In this way, the tradition of vengeance killings to restore honor creates a cyclical pattern of murder.

Although these vicious customs originated long ago, vengeance killings are still part of everyday life today, where the Kanun has been given priority over national legislation in many communities. The institutional justice system in Albania is weak, corrupt, unenforced, and often unsuitable for dealing with murders related to Blood Feuds. This justice system leaves the Vukaj family without basic human rights and freedoms. Their home, the only place where they are safe, according to the Kanun, is becoming their prison.

"My home, My Prison" depicts the ever-present Blood Feud phenomenon of northern Albania. For this story, I found it important to focus on how an ancient tradition, which still exists in a modern country, torments an ordinary family.