On February 24, 1871, Sevasti Dako Qiriazi was born, patriot and initiator of Albanian female education. Together with her sister, Parashqevi Qiriazi, she published the magazine “Ylli i Mëngjesit” (The morning Star). She also fought for the social emancipation of Albanian women. Sevasti Qiriazi died on August 30, 1949.

On February 24, 1923, the First Muslim Congress was held in the hall of the “Djelmnia Dibrane” (Dibra Youngmen) society in Tirana, which approved the basic document that realized the declaration of independence of Albanian Muslims from Turkey.

On February 24, 1938, the Albanian philosopher and philologist Gjergj Pekmezi passed away in Vienna. He was born in Tushemisht, Pogradec, on April 23, 1872. He graduated in philosophy and philology in Belgrade and Vienna.

In 1903, he was appointed Head of the Department of the Albanian Language at the Oriental University of Vienna. In 1916 he was the Chairman of the “Literary Commission of Shkodra”. His contribution as a great patriot and diplomat of Albania was proved in 1913, at the International Border Commission, when he proved the Albanianness of the southern territories, against Greek intentions. In 1920-1928 he was appointed Consul General of Albania in Austria. In the same year, he was appointed a professor at the University of Vienna, in the Department of the Albanian Language, a task he held until February 24, 1938, when he suddenly passed away. Today, the chair of Albanianology at the University of Vienna bears the name “Prof. Dr. Gjerg Pekmezi”.

/a.p./