photographed in her house in Tirana

Born on December 31, 1941, in Mürling, Austria, to an Austrian mother, Birgite Xhepa faced the repression of the communist regime from a young age. Her father, Qazim Xhepa, an engineer educated in Vienna, was arrested and sentenced for alleged involvement in the fabricated 1951 incident at the Soviet Embassy courtyard. Accused of treason, he was sentenced to five years in prison. While 22 others arrested in connection with the event received harsh sentences, Qazim was released early due to a lack of evidence.

This event left an indelible mark on the life of the Albanian-Austrian family. The stigma of the incident profoundly affected Birgite and her brother, Kurti. Their mother’s ties to her family in Austria were closely monitored – letters and packages were opened and inspected, a practice that continued until 1990.

Kurti and his family were exiled to Përrenjas, where they lived under constant surveillance – on the streets, at work, and in every aspect of their lives. Meanwhile, Birgite, marked by her „stained biography,“ lived under constant surveillance by the state, community, and State Security (Sigurimi), which prevented her from ever marrying.

After 1990, Birgite chose to remain in Albania rather than return to Austria, living in her parents’ home in the heart of Tirana. Her family’s hardships stand as a vivid testament to the persecution and repressive policies of the communist regime toward individuals with foreign ties.