Albania to Grant Sovereignty to Bektashi Muslims in Tirana

International

-Sathish Raman

Updated: Monday, September 23, 2024, 2:45 [IST]

Albanian
Prime
Minister
Edi
Rama
announced
plans
to
establish
the
Tirana-based
Bektashi
Muslims,
a
Sufi
Islamic
order,
as
a
sovereign
state.
This
initiative
aims
to
promote
moderation,
tolerance,
and
peaceful
coexistence.
Speaking
at
the
United
Nations,
Rama
highlighted
Albania’s
history
of
sheltering
Jewish
refugees
during
World
War
II
and
Afghans
after
the
Taliban’s
rise
three
years
ago.

Albania
is
home
to
2.4
million
people,
with
roughly
half
identifying
as
Muslim.
The
remaining
population
consists
of
Catholic
and
Orthodox
Christians
and
other
smaller
communities.
The
country
is
renowned
for
its
religious
harmony
and
coexistence.
Bektashi
Muslims
represent
about
10%
of
the
Muslim
population
in
Albania,
according
to
the
latest
census
data.

Religious
Harmony
and
Coexistence

The
Bektashi
Order
expressed
that
this
move
marks
a
new
era
for
global
religious
tolerance.
“Such
a
historic
step
aims
at
recognizing
the
Beltashi
Order
as
a
sovereign,
self-governing
state,
committed
to
supporting
its
century-old
culture
of
moderation
and
spiritual
involvement,” it
stated.
The
order
will
receive
sovereignty
similar
to
that
of
the
Vatican,
allowing
it
to
govern
religious
and
administrative
matters
independently
from
Albania.

The
Bektashi
Order
originated
in
the
Ottoman
Empire
during
the
13th
century.
It
gained
political
significance
in
the
15th
century
by
dominating
the
Janissary
Corps,
elite
infantry
units
serving
Ottoman
sultans.
After
Turkey’s
establishment
as
a
republic,
Kemal
Ataturk
banned
non-state
religious
institutions,
prompting
the
Bektashi
community
to
relocate
its
headquarters
to
Albania.

Historical
Significance
and
Future
Plans

The
Bektashi
Order’s
leadership
will
be
managed
by
Baba
Mondi
and
a
council
overseeing
its
religious
and
administrative
functions.
Citizenship
will
be
granted
only
to
top
religious
figures
and
those
involved
in
state
management.
“The
new
state
will
aim
at
nothing
but
the
spiritual
leadership,” the
statement
emphasized.

Rama
also
mentioned
Mother
Teresa,
an
Albanian
who
“embodied
love
for
humanity.” He
quoted
her
saying,
“She
told
us
that
not
all
of
us
can
do
big
things,
but
we
can
all
do
small
things
with
big
love.”
This
sentiment
inspires
Albania’s
support
for
transforming
the
World
Bektashi
Order
into
a
sovereign
state
in
Tirana.

It
remains
unclear
how
legal
sovereignty
will
be
granted
to
the
order.
However,
this
initiative
is
seen
as
a
step
towards
enhancing
global
religious
tolerance.
The
Bektashi
community
has
been
politically
active
in
Albania
since
Ismail
Qemali
declared
independence
from
the
Ottoman
Empire
in
1912.