From the event of 1942 to the name "Prison 302 Mine Peza"

2026-04-26 19:59:00, Kulturë Aleksandër Cangonja

The event reflected in the archival document (Fund 152, year 1942, file 264) is related to the clash that took place near the Tirana prison, where during the intervention of the security forces Mina Bilali was seriously injured, who later died in hospital. This episode, documented in official sources of the time, had a significant impact on the propaganda of the communist regime.

Subsequently, in later tradition and in collective memory, this event became directly linked to her figure, causing the prison near the scene to be identified with her name. Thus, the institution became known as “Prison 302 Mine Peza”, a name linked to the symbolic perpetuation of this event and its victim.

ROYAL PREFECTURE OF TIRANA

Tirana, on 18-9-1942-XX
No. 7/160 of the prot. Res.
PT
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
(Political Office)
Tirana

LANDA:

We have the honor to inform you that: yesterday, 17/IX/1942-XX, at 4:30 p.m., a number of women and girls gathered at the outer gate of the prison premises, where they asked to meet with the prisoners. At that time, the guard Mehmet Ali Konitca and the guard Mejreme Llabunishti, as usual and even more suspicious than the majority, asked to conduct a proper search before allowing them to enter, but they refused and then tried to enter by force, shouting "we want the freedom of our brothers".

The difficult situation was immediately apparent, as the demonstrators' screams had gathered and the prisoners were about to break the bars, and at once the order was given to double the number of guards and to increase the number of rifles to scare them, who began to disperse. At that time and above, the Head of this Prefecture personally went there once, who after ordering the prisoners to leave the bars and who did not obey him, ordered the guards to open fire on them, who immediately left.
None of the prisoners were killed or wounded, while the guards, from the return of the bullets hitting the bars, were slightly wounded: the guard Qazim Zaja, a marshal, two soldiers and two carabinieri, the orderlies of the Head of this Prefecture Gjetan Gjoçi.

LINKS:

Of the external demonstrators, a woman named Mina Bilali, 70 years old, who later died at the Civil Hospital where she was sent for treatment, and Petro Veledini, 22 years old from Vlora, who was declared curable in 20 days.
The demonstrators released from prison continued their demonstration in parts on Princ Umberti Street and on Shkodra Street, the army of the KK.MM. and police agents quickly dispersed them, restoring order in the place and arresting 30 people, most of whom were women and girls.

PREFECTURE CLASS I.

(Qazim Mulleti)

(Signature and Seal)