The third femicide of 2022 has been reported in Albania after a 50-year-old woman was stabbed by her husband in Fier, central Albania.
Valdete Mamaj was murdered by her husband this morning. She was found dead in her home with a stab wound to the chest and several other lacerations on her body. Her husband, Petrit Mamaj first reported it as suicide and later admitted the crime of murder to the police.
It is reported that after committing the crime, he went to a cafe to eat. He then returned home and called his brother to say his wife had killed herself. They notified the police and he kept the story up until under further questioning and when presented with initial forensic evidence, he confessed.
In January, two women were murdered at the hands of men. The first, Fatmime Sula was hung by her neighbour. The first was Gjyle Topalli who was shot with a Kalashnikov in the presence of her father and young daugther.
Since the start of 2021, 22 women have been murdered by men in Albania.
- Lumturi Bici, 50 years old, killed by her husband, Librazhd, 2021
- Clarita Ismalaja, 45 years old, killed by her husband, Kruja, 2021
- Diana Vuka, 59, killed by her brother, Shkodra, 2021
- Zhaneta Metani, raped, used for prostitution and killed by Pëparim Tela, Tirana, 2021
- Kristina Bardhi, used for prostitution and killed by Pëparim Tela, Tirana 2021
- Liljana Buzo, 54, killed by her husband, Elbasan, 2021
- Dorina Alla, 39 years old, killed by her husband, in the presence of children, Italy, 2021
- Fëllënza Shirja, 45 years old, killed by her husband, Kavaja, 2021
- Irvana Hyka, 28, was killed by her husband in the presence of children while pregnant, Fier, 2021
- Luljeta Heshta, 47 years old, killed by partner, Italy, 2021
- Sanije Bandula, 83 years old, killed by her husband, Shkodra, 2021
- Anisa Shehu, 31, killed by her husband, Greece, 2021
- Joana Peca, 27 years old, shot by her husband in the presence of children, Florida, USA, 2021
- Sabrina Bengaj, 23, murdered by ex-husband Fier, 2021
- Violeta Gurraj, 47 years old, was killed in her home by her husband, Shkodra
- Fëllënxë Rrasa, 45 years old, killed by her husband, Divjaka, 2021
- Jawsackie Jaboah, 31, killed by Albanian husband, Tirana, 2021
- Elinda Topalli, 50 years old, killed by her husband, Austria, 2021
- Elona Ibrushi, 36, killed by her husband, Greece, 2021
- Gjyle Topalli, 40 years old, killed by ex-husband, Vau i Dejë, 2022
- Fatmime Sula, 64 years old, killed by a neighbour, Kucova 2022
- Valdete Mamaj, 50 year old, killed by her husband, Fier 2022
Albania has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in Europe with over half of women experiencing at least one form of violence in their lives. The prosecution rate for crimes against women is concerningly low at around 13%. Convictions are even rarer.
