The Picture of the Day

History, Heritage, and Truth in the Promotion of Shkelzen Gashi’s Massacres of Kosovo (1998–1999)

In an atmosphere marked by dignity and intellectual integrity, the presentation of Shkelzen Gashi’s book Massacres of Kosovo (1998–1999) at St. John’s University, Queens Campus, stands as a milestone in the collective effort to safeguard historical truth. Organized with great care by Kosovo’s Ambassador, Prof. Dr. Blerim Reka, the event brought together scholars, witnesses, and engaged citizens committed to preserving the memory of a painful yet crucial chapter in Kosovo’s recent past.

The lens of Halil Mula, with his keen professional eye, captured more than just an image—it framed a moment of convergence between testimony, research, and resistance. In this historic photograph, from right to left, we see: the esteemed anthropologist and human rights advocate Anna Di Lellio, author Shkelzen Gashi, Christopher Hyland, formes adviser and the deputy national political director of President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign and myself, Klara Buda, in the role of both photojournalist and longtime advocate for Kosovo’s historical and human dignity.

Thanks to Halil Mula, I hold the copyright to what I called “The Picture of the Day”—a document not only of people, but of purpose.

Shkelzen Gashi’s work is not just a book; it is a carefully placed stone in the foundation of Kosovo’s post-war historiography. By rigorously documenting the massacres perpetrated during 1998–1999, he challenges silence and revisionism alike, offering the future a reliable map of sorrow and resilience. His voice joins that of Anna Di Lellio, whose testimony has long stood as a beacon of intellectual and moral clarity regarding the war in Kosovo.

Such work can only be accomplished through multidisciplinary collaboration carried out by dedicated teams and supported by institutions. Nonetheless, this book opens a vital path toward the systematic documentation of the massacres.

This image also reminds us of the many fronts where truth is defended: from those fighting for religious and cultural pluralism, such as the advocates for the Bektashi heritage, to those like myself who have never spared energy in working for Kosovo’s rightful place in Europe’s historical and moral landscape.

“The Picture of the Day” copyright H. Mula is more than a snapshot. It is the attention we owe to good people and to historical objectivity. It is a tribute to those who speak, write, and stand when history needs witnesses.

version albanaise

photogalerie