photographed in his appartment in Tirana

Born on March 11, 1943, in Gusmar, Tepelenë, Daut Gumeni worked as a school director and teacher from 1964 to 1966 after completing his studies in Gjirokastër. He was arrested on June 27, 1967, accused of attempting to flee Albania with his cousin at the Shtugarë border post in Gjirokastër. On September 21, 1967, the Gjirokastër Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for treason, along with confiscation of property and the loss of voting rights for 5 years.

While serving his sentence, Gumeni was rearrested on January 20, 1970, and given an additional 15 years. He spent a total of 23 years, 1 month, and 11 days in prison, being released only on August 7, 1990.

After the fall of the communist regime, Gumeni became an active publicist and writer, publishing over 70 articles and several books, including  Testamenti politik (Political Testament, 1994), Kënga e zezakut të bardhë (The Song of the White Blackman, 1994), and Shënime nga Shkolla e Partisë (Notes from the Party School, 2012). Gumeni was a member of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents during the years 2017–2018, from which he resigned.