In 1911, the tensions between Albanians and the Young Turks reached a boiling point. Revolts erupted across the Albanian territories, challenging the authority of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish government responded by sending several military expeditions to suppress the uprisings, but these failed to yield any significant results. At the same time, political warfare raged in the Ottoman Parliament.
By Hasan Bello, adapted to English by Oculus News
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The atmosphere in the Parliament was heated, especially after an incident involving a Young Turk deputy from Serez (now in Greece), Dervish Bey, who slapped Ismail Qemali, a prominent Albanian politician. This action caused a great deal of outrage. Fortunately, the quick intervention of several calm-headed deputies, including Esat Toptani, prevented the situation from escalating into physical violence. However, even the Interior Minister, Talat Pasha, and other members of the Young Turk Committee tried to avoid an even bigger scandal within Parliament.
During a break in the parliamentary session, the Albanian deputies, furious at the insult to their compatriot, went to the office of the Speaker. To their dismay, the Speaker was absent, possibly out of fear. They declared to the deputy speaker that it was better to kill an Albanian than to slap him, reflecting the deep anger over the affront.
The incident sent shockwaves through the Albanian press and communities abroad, and it quickly turned into a rallying cry for further resistance. Plans for a broader insurrection against the Ottoman Empire began to take shape, even as the Young Turks sought to stabilize the political situation.
However, one observer of the event, a man who had shown little visible emotion during the altercation, was preparing for a drastic response. Nexhip Bey Draga, a Kosovo Albanian deputy, perceived this as a national insult that demanded retribution. In traditional Albanian custom, the affront could only be washed away with blood.
Draga decided that the only way to restore Albanian honor was to assassinate the Ottoman Prime Minister, Ibrahim Haki Pasha. To carry out the mission, Dervish Hima, a revolutionary figure, suggested a promising candidate: Salih Hoxha, a student from Elbasan who was nearing graduation from the Military Academy. Hoxha eagerly accepted the task, and Draga agreed to cover all the expenses involved.
Salih Hoxha abandoned his studies and, over the next few days, took up residence at the famous "Hotel des Princes" in Istanbul's Pera district, which was near the British Embassy. The plan was for Hoxha to assassinate Ibrahim Haki Pasha and then escape the Ottoman Empire by ship.
But an unexpected turn of events led to the failure of the assassination plot. Dervish Hima, keen to make his mark as a revolutionary and to gain recognition, decided to send an article to a prominent Austrian newspaper. The article, accompanied by a photograph of Salih Hoxha, warned that an assassination attempt against Ibrahim Haki Pasha was imminent. The story was published the following day, complete with Hoxha's photo—a practice that typically would have been reserved for after the assassination.
This premature publication of the news ruined the surprise element of the plot. As a result, Salih Hoxha was forced to flee the country, becoming a wanted fugitive in the eyes of the Ottoman authorities. The failure of the assassination attempt became a defining moment in Albanian resistance and Ottoman politics.
This episode highlights the volatile and complex political environment of the time, where even the smallest insult could spark serious consequences. Furthermore, it showcases the often unintentional role that the media played in shaping historical events. The failure of the assassination is one of the greatest journalistic "scoops" in European history—an example of how a single news report can alter the course of an entire plot.
In retrospect, this failed assassination is not only a chapter in the tumultuous history of Albanian-Ottoman relations but also a reminder of the intertwining of politics, honor, and the media in shaping the actions of individuals and nations during the early 20th century.