Besa is actually a pagan (not religious) tradition, and predates some of the conversion of the country into muslim (when it was invaded by the ottoman turks).

Besa is actually a pagan (not religious) tradition, and predates some of the conversion of the country into muslim (when it was invaded by the ottoman turks). Before the Ottoman Invasion in the 15th century, most of Albania was part of the Roman Empire, and Catholic. Before being invaded by the Roman empire, the Albanian (Illyrian at the time) were pagan. The person that wrote the "Kanuni i Lek Dukagjinit", which is the codification of these customs into written form was actually a catholic Albanian priest.