diff --git a/wikibot.py b/wikibot.py
index 5b66fd146c5a9d68bfbfb03d0edb44397291c6d6..10298500c31d7ec7b602f31afb750c654c52a38a 100644
--- a/wikibot.py
+++ b/wikibot.py
@@ -5,6 +5,17 @@ import re
 import datetime
 
 
+def strip_namespace(full_name):
+    """Returns the pure pagename without namespace
+	If a namespace withoput pagename is given like "n1:n2:" then the last namespace is returned 
+	"""
+    split = full_name.split(":")
+    if len(split) > 1 and split[-1] == "":
+        return split[-2]
+    else:
+        return split[-1]
+
+
 def move_page(original_page, new_page, delete=False):
     """Moves a page, updates link to new page and flags or deletes the old one"""
     with Proxy(config.WIKI_API_URL) as proxy:
@@ -37,7 +48,7 @@ def move_pages(original_name_regex, new_name_func, delete=False):
             page_content = proxy.wiki.getPage(old)
             proxy.wiki.putPage(new, page_content, {"sum": "Moved from " + old})
         # bulk update for links #
-        update_backlink_sites = {} 
+        update_backlink_sites = {}
         for page in update_pages.keys():
             for link in proxy.wiki.getBackLinks(page):
                 if update_backlink_sites.get(link):