Albania to Establish Vatican-Style Sufi State in Tirana

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Saturday plans for Albania to create a sovereign Muslim state in Tirana dedicated to the Bektashi religious order, akin to the Vatican in Rome, Dawn newspaper reported. The proposed enclave would aim to preserve and promote religious tolerance while maintaining Albania’s sovereignty.

Rama emphasized that the Bektashi state would be one of the world’s smallest, featuring its own administration but lacking taxation, police, or military forces. “The history of the Bektashi is an imposing call to give the holy seat of the Bektashi World Centre a status similar to that of the Vatican,” he stated during a ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the Bektashi’s relocation to Albania from Turkiye.

Founded in the 13th century as an offshoot of Sufism, the Bektashi order has been based in Albania since 1929. Approximately 10% of Albania’s population identifies as Bektashi, with communities also present in Kosovo and North Macedonia.

It should be mentioned that Sufism is a deviant school of thought and practice which does not comply with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Pure Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them.