Albania Announces Plan to Create Vatican-Like “Sufi State” for Bektashi Sect in Tirana

Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has announced plans to establish an autonomous “Sufi state” in Tirana, modeled after the Vatican, aimed at promoting religious tolerance. This new state will be dedicated to the Bektashi order, a Sufi sect, and will not only preserve the country’s sovereignty but also focus on fostering a spiritual and peaceful environment.

According to Prime Minister Rama, if established, the state will be one of the smallest in the world, with its own administration, but without taxes, police, or military forces. The move is intended to provide a sacred space for the Bektashi order, which holds historical significance in the region.

The announcement came on the 95th anniversary of the relocation of the Bektashi’s holy center from Turkey to Albania. The prime minister emphasized that the Bektashi order’s rich history and its World Center deserve to be recognized as a spiritual epicenter akin to the Vatican.

The Bektashi sect, rooted in the 13th century within the Ottoman Empire, has had its headquarters in Albania since 1929, though its practice was curtailed during the early years of the Turkish Republic under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Today, Albania, along with Kosovo and North Macedonia, hosts a significant number of Bektashi followers, with approximately 10% of Albania’s population identifying with the sect.

This initiative seeks not only to honor the Bektashi tradition but also to create a space for spiritual growth, free from the constraints of typical state governance. What are your thoughts on this unique approach to promoting religious harmony?