Editing Enver Hoxha (section)

=== Religion ===
{{further|Freedom of religion in Albania|Irreligion in Albania|Islam in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania|Religion in Albania#Communist Albania|State atheism#Albania}}
After the [[Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire|demise of the Ottoman Empire]], Albania was a [[Islam in Albania|predominantly Muslim country]], in which social structure was based on [[Confessional community|confessional communities]], rather than [[ethnic group]]s. After the [[rise of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire]], [[Muslim millet|Muslims]] were classified as [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Rum millet|Eastern Orthodox Christians]] were classified as [[Greeks]], and [[Catholic millet|Catholics]] were classified as [[Latin liturgical rites|Latins]]. Hoxha believed that this division of Albanian society along religious and ethnic lines was a serious issue because it fueled Greek separatists in southern Albania in particular, and it also divided the nation in general. The Agrarian Reform Law of 1945 confiscated much of the church's property in the country. [[Catholic Church in Albania|Catholics]] were the earliest religious community to be targeted because the [[Holy See|Vatican]] was considered an agent of [[Fascism]] and [[anti-Communism]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Logoreci|1978}}</ref> In 1946 the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit Order]] was banned and the [[Franciscans]] were banned in 1947. ''Decree No. 743'' (On religion) sought the establishment of a [[State religion|national church]], and it also forbade religious leaders from associating with foreign powers.

[[Mother Teresa]], a Catholic nun whose relatives resided in Albania during Hoxha's rule, was denied a chance to see them because she was considered a dangerous agent of the Vatican. Despite multiple requests and despite the fact that many countries made requests on her behalf, she was not granted the opportunity to see her mother and sister.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Enver Hoxha : the iron fist of Albania|last=Fevziu|first=Blendi|isbn=9781784539702|oclc=1000295419|year=2017|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref> Mother Teresa's mother and sister both died during Hoxha's rule, and the nun herself was only able to visit Albania five years after the Communist regime collapsed.<ref name=":2" /> 

The Party focused on atheist education in schools. This tactic was effective, primarily as a result of the high birthrate policy, which was encouraged after the war. During periods which are considered "holy periods" by religious people, such as [[Lent]] and [[Ramadan]], many foods and non-water beverages were distributed in schools and factories, and religious people who refused to eat those foods and drink those beverages when they were offered to them during their "fasting times" were denounced.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Starting on 6{{nbsp}}February 1967, the party began to promote [[secularism]] in place of [[Abrahamic religions]]. Hoxha, who had launched a [[Cultural and Ideological Revolution]] after being partially inspired by China's [[Cultural Revolution]], encouraged Communist students and workers to use more forceful tactics in order to discourage people from continuing their religious practices; the use of violence was initially condemned.<ref>Enver Hoxha, "The Communists Lead by Means of Example, Sacrifices, Abnegation: Discussion in the Organization of the Party, Sector C, of the 'Enver' Plant", 2 March 1967, in Hoxha, E., Vepra, n. 35, Tirana, 1982, pp. 130–131. "In this matter violence, exaggerated or inflated actions must be condemned. Here it is necessary to use persuasion and only persuasion, political and ideological work, so that the ground is prepared for each concrete action against religion."</ref>

According to Hoxha, the surge in [[Antitheism|anti-theist]] activities began with the youth. The result of this "spontaneous, unprovoked movement" was the demolition or conversion of all 2,169 churches and mosques in Albania.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Albania – The Cultural and Ideological Revolution|url=http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-170.html|access-date=14 June 2020|website=www.country-data.com}}</ref> [[State atheism]] became official policy, and Albania was declared the world's first atheist state. Town and city names which echoed Abrahamic religious themes were abandoned for neutral secular ones, as well as personal names. By 1968, Hoxha stated in a speech in that "Religion is a fuel kindling fires of all evils".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hoxha|first=Enver|title=Speeches, Conversations, and Articles: 1967–1968|publisher=The Naim Frashëri Publishing House|year=1969|location=Tirana|pages=195|language=English}}</ref> During this period religiously based names were also made illegal. The ''Dictionary of People's Names'', published in 1982, contained 3,000 approved, secular names. In 1992, Monsignor Dias, the Papal Nuncio for Albania appointed by [[Pope John Paul II]], said that of the three hundred Catholic priests present in Albania prior to the Communists coming to power, only thirty were still active.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamm |first=Henry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/27/world/albania-s-clerics-lead-a-rebirth.html |title=Albania's Clerics Lead a Rebirth |date=27 March 1992 |work=The New York Times |access-date=29 May 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The promotion of religion was banned, and all clerics were labeled reactionaries and outlawed.  Those religious figures who refused to embrace the principles of Marxism–Leninism were either arrested or carried on their activities in hiding.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}