27.01.2025 22:33
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that they will establish a "sovereign Muslim state similar to the Vatican for the Bektashi order" in the capital, Tirana, with the aim of preserving and promoting interfaith tolerance. Rama stated that the proposed symbolic "Bektashi state" will have "no taxes or police and will not pose a threat to the sovereignty of Albania."
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that they will establish a sovereign Muslim state similar to the Vatican for the Bektashi order in the capital Tirana, stating that this will be done to preserve and promote interfaith tolerance.
A STATUS SIMILAR TO THE VATICAN FOR BEKTASHIS
Rama said at a ceremony held to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the transfer of the holy seat from Turkey to Albania, "The history of the Bektashis is a spontaneous strong call for the granting of a status similar to the Vatican for the Bektashi World Center's holy seat."
WITHOUT WALLS, WITHOUT POLICE, WITHOUT ARMY, WITHOUT TAX...
Stating that the symbolic state will be "without walls, without police, without army, without tax, and lacking other features, but will be a headquarters, a spiritual state," Rama said, "If established, this region for the Islamic Sufi order will be one of the smallest states in the world and will have its own administration. However, there will be no tax and police, and it will not pose a threat to the sovereignty of Albania." Rama did not provide details on the timing and emphasized that the plan needs to be approved by the Albanian parliament.
IN ALBANIA SINCE 1929
The Bektashi center, established in the 13th century under the Ottoman Empire, has been in Albania since 1929 due to the "decision to close dervish lodges and convents with the decree dated September 2, 1925, in the Republic of Turkey."