Shahin bey Kolonja (; 1865–1919) was an Albanian journalist, politician, and member of the Ottoman Parliament during its Second Constitutional Era. Early life Shahin Kolonja, was born Shahin Teki Ypi in 1865 or 1967 in Starje, Kolonjë, at that time part of the Ottoman Empire. He came from a well-known Bektashi family of the area and was the son of Karahman bey and the grandson of Süleyman Pasha, mutasarrif of Plevlje. Kolonja was a graduate of the school of civil service (mülkiye) and had served as director of several idadiye schools, initially in Edirne. He was one of the Albanians employed in the Ottoman public administration and was for a time the mutasarrif of the sanjak of Mount Athos (Aynaroz). He abandoned civil service in order to follow other lifetime pursuits and beliefs. Later he was arrested in Bitola and sentenced to three years in prison for disseminating Albanian-language works. In 1897 he wrote a memorandum to the Ottoman authorities for a permission to publish a newspaper in Albanian. The request was rejected. Two years later he asked help from the Austro-Hungarian counsel in Monastir for help in publishing the newspaper. Due to difficulties and continuous surveillance from the authorities, he had to leaeve the country. Kolonja went to various countries in Europe, finally settling in Sofia. Publicist and political activity From 1901 to 1908 he published in Sofia the journal Drita, task which was initially handled by Petro Poga, with the help of Kristo Luarasi (1876-1934) and financial support of Austro-Hungary. Luarasi was serving as the manager of the printing press "Mbrothësia" ("Progress"). The printing press was previously established by the Albanian colony of Sofia, grouped mainly under the "Dëshira" (Desire) Society, with the aim of spreading knowledge and Albanian-language instructions between Albanians, and serving the national cause. Through the newspaper, Kolonja and Luarasi would intensively work for sharpening the national conscience of the Albanian, and providing books in Albanian. Kolonja's written works in Drita and other media highlighted the socio-economic aspect of the Albanian national movement by critiquing the Ottoman aristocratic class, to whom he belonged being a bey, and noting the plight of the peasantry. Kolonja advocated for an Albanian national awakening and the security of national existence through a better constitutional relationship between Albanians and the Ottoman Empire, however also supported the activities of armed Albanian guerilla bands fighting the empire. While in Sofia, Kolonja would