What happened to churches and mosques in Albania under communist rule?

Under the communist regime, the Albanian government viewed religious institutions as backward, medieval obstacles to national unity and progress. In 1967, the party officially proclaimed Albania an atheistic state, leading to the systematic suppression of all religious life.123

During this period, the government took the following actions:
* Closure of Worship Sites: All Christian and Muslim houses of worship, including churches, mosques, and zāwiyahs, were closed.12
* Confiscation: The state confiscated the property belonging to these religious institutions.2
* Ban on Observance: All religious observances were strictly banned, and the party engaged in large-scale persecution of believers throughout its 45 years of absolute rule.2

This policy forced the population into a largely secular lifestyle, and it was not until 1990 that freedom of worship was restored and churches and mosques began to reopen.2