heraldry / Inheritance / Kreachur / Albania

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 88015

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)" 
<catlady at w...> wrote:

> << Can anyone think of a good reason why LV would choose Albania as
> his hideout, bot before SS and between then and GoF? >>
> 

Rowling may have selected Albania due to a unique circumstance of it 
oppression, under the rule of Evner Hoxha (one of the 20th Century's 
many real-life Voldemorts). Beginning in 1967, and contunuing through 
the collapse of the Communist regime in 1991, Albania's constitution 
banned the practice of religion in any way shape or form. Hundreds of 
mosques, and churches (and the few synagogues) were closed and 
thousands of priests, ministers and clerics were arrested. Owning a 
Bible or Koran was a criminal offense. 

Many other regimes have of course persecuted other religions (usually 
at the behest of their preferred religion), and, in practice, all 
Communist regimes have more or less strictly circumscribed the 
practice of faith. However, their constitutions all "guarantee" the 
freedom of religion, and its practice is allowed (even in North 
Korea, though under severe scrutiny). Albania is the first and only 
nation to attempt to openly expunge all forms of religious practice. 

   - CMC