ZHUJ SELMANI – THE HERO OF RUGOVA WHO BURNED HIS TOWER RATHER THAN SURRENDER
The Albanian land will be defended at any cost, wherever necessary – especially in Mitrovica
By Flamur Buçpapaj
National Publications – National Historical Editorial
The Light Born from Darkness
The history of the Albanian people is filled with figures who rose from dark times and became torches of light for the generations that followed. Among the brightest of them, who in the silence of the Rugova mountains became a symbol of sacrifice and national honor, stands Zhuj Selmani.
He left behind no writings, only deeds; he sought no glory, only gave the nation an immortal act that transcends time: the explosion of the Tower of Sheremeti, in 1875, rather than surrender to the enemy.
In that explosion, not only a stone tower was destroyed — the Albanian pledge of honor was sealed forever: better death with honor than life in shame.
The Roots of Resistance
Zhuj Selmani was born around 1844 in the village of Koshutan, in Rugova — a land where bravery, honor, and hospitality are unwritten laws of life.
He belonged to the Lucëgjekaj clan of Kelmendi, known for its courage and defiance against all invaders.
At that time, the Ottoman Empire was weakening, while the Montenegrin forces sought to expand their borders into Albanian lands.
In those turbulent years, Selmani could not accept the humiliation of his homeland. He was among the first to raise his rifle for the defense of Albanian territory.
The Siege of the Tower of Sheremeti
In the summer of 1875, Montenegrin forces led by Marko Miljanov attacked the border areas of Rugova. The mountain paths filled with soldiers, and the fortified Tower of Sheremeti—where Zhuj Selmani and several men of his clan were positioned—was surrounded by hundreds of enemy troops.
The demand for surrender was immediately rejected. For hours, Albanian rifles thundered without pause. The stone walls held firm with powder and blood.
When the siege became unbearable and the ammunition was gone, Zhuj Selmani, gravely wounded, made the decision that would immortalize him in history: he set fire to the gunpowder inside the tower, blowing it up.
He died a legend, taking with him dozens of enemy soldiers.
In that explosion, the spirit of a nation that refuses enslavement rose to the heavens.
From Legend to Memory
Since that day, the name of Zhuj Selmani has lived on in epic songs, tales told in mountain lodges, and the living history of the Albanian people.
For the people of Rugova, he was not merely a man who took his own life — he was the man who killed fear.
Today, a statue in Peja commemorates him, and the Republic of Kosovo has honored him with the Order of Freedom for his historic contribution to the defense of the homeland.
This is proof that his sacrifice was never forgotten. On the contrary, it remains an inspiration for every generation that believes in freedom and national dignity.
The Albanian Land Will Be Defended at Any Cost
Today, in the 21st century — in a world changing at great speed — Zhuj Selmani’s message remains as vital as ever:
“The Albanian land will be defended at any cost, wherever necessary.”
In a time when political and geopolitical borders are often tested, we must remember that defending the homeland does not mean hatred — it means dignity, responsibility, and national unity.
From Rugova of the brave to Mitrovica, which today stands as a symbol of resilience and challenge, Albanians will remain steadfast, as Zhuj Selmani once stood — with honor, faith, and commitment to peace and justice.
Readiness and National Unity
In our time, when the region faces ongoing tensions, Albania and Kosovo must continue to serve as examples of political maturity and civic unity.
There are still forces that seek to provoke division, distraction, and conflict.
But the Albanian people are not a nation to be frightened. We do not seek war — yet we are always ready to defend peace and life with every legitimate means.
Mitrovica today stands as a frontier of honor. It must not be seen as a dividing line but as a point of unity and national responsibility.
Every citizen, every institution, every Albanian must feel that the safety of the homeland begins with our unity and the protection of the values that keep us alive as a nation.
The Immortal Testament of a Man
Zhuj Selmani left behind no written words, but he left a testament that echoes like an eternal vow:
“Never leave your homeland in the hands of strangers. Defend it with honor, with wisdom, and with unity.”
This testament is as meaningful today as it was in 1875.
Because without honor and land, a people lose their soul.
Zhuj Selmani is not merely a historical figure — he is the living memory of Albanian freedom.
From that distant day when a tower was blown to pieces rather than surrendered, to the present day, Albanians remain bound by the same belief:
Freedom is never given — it is won and defended.
And as long as the memory of Zhuj Selmani lives in the mind
