LAW, VISUAL CULTURE, AND THE SHOW TRIAL

LAW, VISUAL CULTURE, AND THE SHOW TRIAL

By Mal Berisha

Former Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Court of St. James’s in London

In 2023, Dr. Agata Fijalkowski, Professor of Law at Leeds Beckett University, England, published the book “Law, Visual Culture, and the Show Trial.” This work explores the parallels between the 1946 sentencing of Musine Kokalari, the First Chairperson of the Social Democratic Party of Albania, and contemporary persecution of Dr. Sali Berisha, founder of the Democratic Party of Albania.

The book delves deeply into the relationship between the promotion of injustice and its connection to visual representation, spanning 186 pages with a third dedicated specifically to Musine Kokalari.

Dr. Fijalkowski examines the ostentatious presentations within ‘People’s Courts’ of post-World War II communist countries, specifically focusing on Albania, Poland, and East Germany.

ALBANIA – The case of Musine Kokalari stands out as the initial example. Describing her, the author writes:

“She was a distinguished martyr of freedom, the first to articulate the idea of pluralism in Albania. During her trial, she famously stated, ‘IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE A COMMUNIST TO LOVE ALBANIA.’”
POLAND – The author highlights the questionable practices in Soviet Poland’s judicial system:

“Authorities appointed judges who failed to meet basic legal requirements, while special schools trained new judges in ‘people’s justice,’ all under the guise of Soviet legal propaganda.”
EAST GERMANY – The book cites Walter Ulbricht, East Germany’s communist leader, who stated:

“Justice must appear democratic, but we must firmly control everything.”

Dr. Fijalkowski’s research extends to an interdisciplinary analysis of post-World War II justice in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, supported by rigorous scholarly archival work. Her book underscores the role of imagery in legal repression within dictatorial and communist regimes.

Beyond academia, Dr. Fijalkowski has written scripts for short films and contributed to television series, often drawing from her legal research. In 2017, she produced a short film, “An Unsung Hero,” dedicated to Musine Kokalari, exhibited at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

To read this article in Albanian, visit:
https://malberisha.com/ligji-kultura-pamore-dhe-gjyqi-popullor/

Watch the YouTube video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e-i6vIBq0s