CANON AND BLOOD FEUD

Abstract

In Albanian, the term Kanun refers to the country's customary law, which was founded on a set of fundamental ideas that served as its permanent pillars, such as blood equality, personal honor, hospitality, and faith. The corpus juris was built on the foundation of these ideas, which were broken down into various norms. The Kanun of Lek Dukagjini is a centuries-old rule of conduct that governs both individual and collective behavior. The main element of northern subculture has emblematically influenced the entire area of Albanian ideas, beliefs, and practices, emerging as the fundamental source of the country's customary law. The majority of studies on blood feuds are anthropological in character; however, this paper will discuss how blood feuds and mutual honor killings are profoundly rooted in the traditional Albanian social code, the canon, which is especially influential in historically isolated places. The code is far from being abolished; its standards continue to govern many aspects of Albanian daily life to this day. Inequality between men and women, as well as blood feuds, is still prevalent.