Mahmut Bakalli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahmut Bakalli
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| President of the Provincial Committee of the League of Communists of Kosovo | |
| In office 28 June 1971 – 6 May 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Veli Deva |
| Succeeded by | Veli Deva |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 January 1936 Đakovica, Yugoslavia (now Gjakova, Kosovo) |
| Died | 14 April 2006 (aged 70) Pristina, Serbia and Montenegro (now Kosovo) |
| Political party | Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (from 2001) League of Communists of Kosovo (until 1989) |
| Alma mater | University of Belgrade |
| Profession | Sociologist, Politician |
Mahmut Bakalli (born January 19, 1936 – died April 14, 2006) was an important Kosovar Albanian politician. He played a key role in Kosovo's politics during the 1970s and early 1980s.
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Early Life and Political Start
Mahmut Bakalli was born in Gjakova, which was then part of Yugoslavia. He studied at the University of Belgrade, where he focused on political science.
Bakalli started his political journey in a youth group connected to the League of Communists of Kosovo. This was a major political party at the time. By 1961, he became the leader of this youth organization. Later, in 1967, he took charge of the party's branch in Prishtina. As he gained more experience, he was chosen to be part of the main committees of the Communist Party at both the Serbian and Yugoslav levels.
Leading Kosovo's Politics
From the early 1970s until 1981, Mahmut Bakalli was the leader of the Communist Party in Kosovo. This made him a very influential figure in the region.
In 1981, there were big protests by ethnic Albanian students in Kosovo. Bakalli disagreed with how these protests were handled by the local police. Because of this disagreement, he decided to step down from his leadership role. After his resignation, he was kept under house arrest for two years. Later, he was removed from the political party.
Life After Politics
After leaving the party, Mahmut Bakalli was allowed to work for Kosovo's Science Association. He stayed there until he retired. However, in the late 1980s, when Slobodan Milošević increased Serbia's control over Kosovo, Bakalli was forced to leave his job.
Even after his retirement from the main political scene, Bakalli remained involved. From 2001, he was a member of the Assembly of Kosovo, which is like Kosovo's parliament. He also worked as an adviser to the prime minister, Agim Çeku.
A Witness for Justice
In 2002, Mahmut Bakalli became the first person to speak as a witness at a special court in The Hague. This court, called the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, was set up to deal with serious crimes from the conflicts in Yugoslavia. Bakalli testified during the trial of Slobodan Milošević, who was a former leader of Serbia.
Later Years and Legacy
Mahmut Bakalli passed away on April 14, 2006, at the age of 70. He had been battling throat cancer for some time. He was survived by his wife and his three daughters. Bakalli is remembered for his political career and his efforts during a challenging time in Kosovo's history.
