The Albanian-American community in Illinois (AACI), today on December 10, 2016 marked the International Day of Human Rights with a peaceful protest for the rights of the Cham people.
The protest took place before the Greek Consulate in Chicago in the presence of a significant number of Albanians from all Albanian regions in Balkans with the support of the Albanian associations operating in Illinois.
The protests is led by the President of the Albanian-American community in Illinois, Mr. Bujar Breznica. In protest were presented activists and prominent members of the community, among them Mr. Fevzi Sylejmani, Mr. Ilir Ademi, and other prominent figures. In this protest participated the 94-year-old woman born in Margellic of Chameria, Emine Lluri. |
| Emine Lluri |
In his speech, the chairman of the community, Mr. Breznica, emphasized the rights of the Albanian Chams, asking the Greek government, as a state of the European Union, to respect the rights of the Cham people, starting with freedom of movement, the right to return in their properties, the abolition of the law of war and the recognition of the Genocide on Chams on 1946-48.
Mr. Breznica continued, "today in our midst have the grandmother Emine, born in Margelliç of Chameria, and today, even as a citizen of the United States of America has no right to return to Chameria and visit the land of her birth. This happens even though Greece is a member of the European Union."