League of Peja holds first convention of 450 delegates under Haxhi Zeka

Background. Albanian patriotic circles recognized the need for a new organization similar to the first League of Prizren to include all Albanian lands. This movement aimed to place Albanians at the forefront of a national movement. The League of Peja was encouraged and supported by Austria-Hungary, directing its efforts against Ottoman reforms and against Serbs from the Kosovo Vilayet.

Establishment. The League was founded in late January 1899 in the city of İpek (now Peja), Kosovo Vilayet, Ottoman Empire. It was led by Haxhi Zeka, a Muslim cleric, and its goals reflected a strongly Islamic and traditionalist vision. The organization adopted the character of the earlier League of Prizren to defend the rights of Ottoman Albanians and seek autonomous status within the empire.

Internal Divisions. There were slight disagreements among the leaders regarding the details of the vision. Haxhi Zeka wanted more autonomy from Istanbul to insulate Albanians from Western reforms spreading from Istanbul. In contrast, Riza Bey Kryeziu wanted attention directed against Sultan Abdul Hamid's rivals and did not see autonomy as a necessity.