Tahir Meha was an Albanian a political activist who was against the Yugoslav regime in Kosovo. He was mostly known for having refused to surrender his weapon as two Yugoslav police officers encountered him on the market in Prekaz. He then died later fighting several tanks and helicopters and Yugoslav special forces. He became an important figure in Kosovar-Albanian folklore as a symbol against Yugoslav rule.
Life and death
Meha was from a patriotic family from Prekaz in Drenica and was known amongst Albanians for owning the kulla of Mehajve in Nebihu. According to Albanian folklore, Meha was on his daily tour at the market when two Yugoslav police officers spotted his pistol in his waist and demanded him to surrender it to which Meha refused. When the police officers became threatful, Meha opened fire and fighting began. According to Yugoslav medias, Meha killed nine police officers and wounded two before he was wounded. Tahir then escapedthe scene and headed back to this home. Yugoslav forces responded with tanks and helicopters and his father joined in to help. When a friend of Meha asked him to surrender his weapon, Meha said "I refuse to surrender to the serb" and stayed in his home. His father stayed in the house and the police forces began the siege at 10 pm during the day. They were surrounded by three battalions to ensure that Tahir Meha would be unable to escape. When the tanks opened fire, the wall of his house crumbled and Meha managed to throw a hand grenade in the cabin of the tank, damaging it severely. When Meha continued forward the light beams of the Yugoslav forces spotted him and opened fire. Meha was found the next morning with 8 bullets on the side and was carried away by locals.
Cause of refusing to surrender his gun
Meha's grandfather, Emin Lati, was a member of the Kacak movement of Azem Bejta during the Albanian fight for freedom against Serbia during the 1920s. After Azem Bejtas death in 1924, Emin Lati collected his revolver and hid it until 1941 where he gave it to Nebihu, his son. The gun of Azem Bejta, which now belonged to Nehibu, used it during World War 2 together with Shaban Palluzha and eventually gave it to Tahir Meha, who used to fight the Yugoslav forces. The reason Meha refused to hand over the gun was because it once belonged to Azem Bejta, and was considered to be venerated by the Albanians.
Legend
Meha became a rallying figure during the decade as a symbol of Albanian liberation against Yugoslav rule and was much celebrated by several important figures and political leaders. He is buried in Prekaz and what remains of his kulla has the Albanian flag attached to it as a symbol of freedom.
