Selim Damani

Selim Damani (6 October 1904 – 8 November 1987) was an Albanian‑American political activist and politician who served as the deputy-secretary, then later became the General-Secretary, leading the Legality Movement Party in exile until his resignation.

Biography

Selim Damani, (6 October 1904 - 8 November 1987), was an Albanian lawyer and political activist associated with the Lëvizja e Legalitetit (Legality Movement), the monarchist faction that supported the constitutional monarchy of King Zog I and resisted both Axis occupation and later communist rule.

In the period after World War II, as the communist government consolidated control in Albania, the Legalist Movement reorganized in exile among the Albanian diaspora. During the first congress Legalitety congress, in 1962, in New York, a Provisional Council was established to prepare for formal reorganization of the movement, and Damani was elected Deputy Secretary (Nënsekretar) of the Legalist Movement's leadership committee. This structure oversaw efforts to build branches of the organization among emigrants in Europe, North America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Following the unexpected death of Legalist Movement leader Nuçi Kotta in 1965, Damani was chosen to succeed him as Secretary-General, leading the organization from approximately 1965 to 1968. In 1968, he resigned from the position amid internal disagreements, and leadership passed to his successor, Fuad Myftija.

He died on 8 November 1987 in the US.