Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights

{{Short description|Committee favouring an autonomous Albanian region (founded 1877)}}

The Central Committee for Defending Albanian Rights ({{langx|sq|Komiteti Qendror për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave Shqiptare}}, {{langx|tr| Arnavut Haklarını Savunmak Merkez Komitesi}}) was formed in the city of Istanbul, Turkey, then Ottoman Empire on December 18, 1877, by an influential group of Albanian intellectuals, patriots, and politicians, such as Hasan Tahsini, Abdyl Frashëri, {{Interlanguage link|Vesel Dino|tr|Veysel Bey Dino}}, Iljaz Pasha Dibra, Ymer Prizreni, Sami Frashëri, Zija Prishtina, Ahmet Koronica, Mehmet Ali Vrioni, Said Toptani, {{Interlanguage link|Mustafa Nuri Vlora|tr|Avlonyalı Mustafa Nuri Paşa}}, Pashko Vasa, Jani Vreto, {{Interlanguage link|Mihal Harito|tr|Mihal Harito}}, Pandeli Sotiri, Koto Hoxhi, and Mane Tahiri.{{cite book|last=Elsie|first=Robert |title=Albanian literature: a short history |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ox3Wx1Nl_2MC&q=pandeli+sotiri&pg=PA76|date=January 2006|publisher=I. B.Tauris & Company, Limited|isbn=1-84511-031-5|pages=75–76}} The chairman of the committee was elected Abdyl Frashëri. The committee would be referred later with a more practical name as Komiteti i Stambollit ("Istanbul Committee").{{citation| url=http://ardhmeriaonline.com/artikull/article/rilindasi-hoxha-hasan-tahsini-ne-mbrojtje-te-trojeve-joshqiptare-te-camerise-nga-aneksimi-dhe/#.UuQ42rQo6M8| language=sq| access-date=2014-01-25| title=Rilindasi Hoxha Hasan Tahsini në mbrojtje të trojeve joshqiptare të Çamërisë nga aneksimi dhe kolonizimi grek| publisher=ardhmeriaonline.com| quote=Më 18 dhjetor 1877 u formua komiteti qendror për mbrojtjen e të drejtave të kombësisë shqiptare apo siç u quajt shkurt "Komiteti i Stambollit", në të cilin Hasan Tahsini ishte pjesëtar aktiv. [On December 18, 1877, the Central Committee for defending rights of the Albanian nation, or as abbreviated "Committee of Instambul", was formed, and Hasan Tahsini was an active member of it]| archive-date=2016-03-05| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305055706/http://ardhmeriaonline.com/artikull/article/rilindasi-hoxha-hasan-tahsini-ne-mbrojtje-te-trojeve-joshqiptare-te-camerise-nga-aneksimi-dhe/#.UuQ42rQo6M8| url-status=dead}} File:Abdyl Frashëri.jpg

The goal of the committee was to disseminate the idea of an autonomous Albanian region within the steadily diminishing Ottoman Empire. The committee's plan and ideals were printed in the Tercuman i Sark paper, and anticipated the founding of a single Albanian vilayet that would encompass the vilayets of Kosovo, Monastir, Janina and Scutari. Contrary to what is often said, a claim for territories very often included the Salonica Vilayet too.{{Citation |last=Clayer |first=Nathalie |title=Aux origines du nationalisme albanais: la naissance d'une nation majoritairement musulmane on Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=umotBF3KFWgC&q=vilayet&pg=PA666 |access-date= January 19, 2011 |year= 2007 |publisher= Karthala |isbn= 978-2-84586-816-8 |page= 463|quote= Contrairement a ce qui est souvent affirme, la revendication d'un territorie englobant le vilayet de Salonique fut assez frequente }}{{Citation |last= Bataković |first= Dušan T. |author-link= Dušan T. Bataković |title= The Kosovo Chronicles |year= 1992 |url= http://www.rastko.rs/kosovo/istorija/kosovo_chronicles/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906083534/http://www.rastko.rs/kosovo/istorija/kosovo_chronicles/index.html |archive-date= September 6, 2010 |url-status= live |access-date= January 19, 2011 |publisher= Knižara Plato |location= Belgrade, Serbia |isbn= 86-447-0006-5 |chapter-url= http://www.rastko.rs/kosovo/istorija/kosovo_chronicles/kc_part2b.html |quote= Plans were then already voiced for including even of the Salonika vilayet }} As support for both the committee and the idea of a united autonomous Albania grew, supporters decided to meet in the city of Prizren. This became the first meeting of what came to be known as the League of Prizren.{{Cite web | url=http://www.shqiperia.com/kat/m/shfaqart/aid/294/Komiteti-i-Stambollit-dhe-platforma-e-tij-politike.html |title = Komiteti i Stambollit dhe platforma e tij politike}}

In October 1879, elite members of the committee formed the Society for the Publication of Albanian Letters, which would perform the difficult tasks of establishing a unified alphabet and primer, and spreading the Albanian writings.