In 1908, an alphabet congress in Manastir agreed to adopt a Latin character-based Albanian alphabet and the move was considered an important step for Albanian unification. Some conservative Albanian Muslims and clerics opposed the Latin alphabet and preferred an Arabic-based Albanian one because they were concerned that the former undermined ties with the Muslim world. For the Ottoman government the situation was alarming because the Albanians were the largest Muslim community in the European part of the empire. The Albanian national movement was a proof that not only Christians had national feelings and Islam could not keep Ottoman Muslims united. In this circumstances the Ottoman state led by the Committee of Union and Progress organised a congress in Debar in 1909 with the intention that Albanians there declare themselves as Ottomans, promise to defend its territorial sovereignty and adopt an Albanian Arabic character script. However they faced a strong opposition from nationally minded Albanians and the Albanian element took total control of the proceedings. While the congress was on progress people of the CUP in Tirane orchestrated an demonstration aimed at Latin alphabet and the local branch of Bashkimi club, the organizer of the Manastir congress. Talat Bey, the interior minister, claimed that the Albanian population supported use of the Turkish alphabet and stayed against the Latin one. However the Bashkimi club did not stop the activity and organized a congress with 120 attendees in Elbasan.
Delegates
The main organizer of congress was the prominent patriot Lef Nosi. Different patriotic clubs authorized delegates to represent them. There were altogether 35 delegates from all over settlements with Albanian population who represented 8 clubs. The Bashkimi club had branches in sixteen settlements, the Vllazënia club in three, while the other six clubs in one each. Some delegates represented more than one club or branch. Midhat Frashëri represented five branches of Bashkimi and one of Vllazenia, while Osman Joraja represented three branches of Bashkimi and one of Vllazenia. The delegates were Abdullah Bej Koprencka, Abdullah Reshidi, Abdurrahim Kavaja, Ahmet Dakli, Andrea Ikonomi, Dervish Beu, Nikolle Kacorri, Emin Haxhi, Grigor M. Cilka, Gjergj Qiriazi, Hafiz Ibrahimi, Hamdi Beu, Haxhi Bajram Beu, Idhomene Kosturi , Irfan Beu, Jahja Efendiu, Josif Haxhi Mima, Kahreman Beu, Kristaq Dako, Mihal Gjuraskovici, Midhat Frashëri, Orhan Beu , Osman Joraja, Qemal Beu, Refik Beu, Sabri Beu, Selman Blloshmi, Sevasti Qiriazi , Simon Shuteriqi, Sulejman Leka, Taqi Buda, Teki Bej Reshiti, Telha Beu, Thoma Papapano, Xhemil Feza.
Afterwards
The opposition from the pro-Turkish fractions would continue, encouraged by the authorities. In a February 6, 1910 open meeting in Monastir, organized by Rexhep Voka and Arif Hikmet, it was demanded the introduction of an Arabic-scripts based alphabet for the Muslim population. Similar meetings were organized in the cities of Elbasan and Ohrid soon after. The Albanian nationalists responded with the organization of another meeting on 27 February at Shën Ilia near Korçë in support of the Latin-script alphabet. The meeting would be known later in the Albanian historiography as the "Albanian alphabet meeting". At the point, it was decided that another follow up congress should be held in order to bring a final end to the oppositions affirming the decisions of the first congress.
