Haji Edmond Brahimaj Mondi is the leader of the Bektashi Muslims (Picture: Godong)
An order of Islamic Sufi Bektashi Muslims will soon have their own microstate in Albania’s capital city.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he plans to transform the order of Muslims into a sovereign state to promote ‘moderation, tolerance and peaceful co-existence’.
Albania is roughly 50% Muslim, but only 10% of them identify as Bektashi Muslims. If the microstate is created, it would be comparable to the Vatican.
The Bektashi Order would be able to govern religious and administrative issues on their own, without Albania’s involvement.
The order said in a statement: ‘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.
‘The new state will aim at nothing but the spiritual leadership.’
The Vatican-like city state would be in Tirana (Picture: Wikimedia)
The Bektashi Order has been headquartered in Albania since the 1930s (Picture: Getty)
What is the Bektashi Order?
The Bektashi Order is a mystic order which can be traced back to the 13th century Ottoman Empire.
The order has been headquartered in Albania since the 1930s, but has members in Turkey and across the Balkans.
There are an estimated 20 million Bektashis around the world.
How would the proposed microstate operate?
Edi Rama announced the plans this month (Picture: AP)
If the plans for a Bektashi microstate go forward in Albania, it’s likely that it will be ruled theocratically, similar to the system in the Vatican.
In the Vatican, the city is headed up by the Pope, who leads both the state and the government.
In Albania, the Bektashi microstate would likely be led by the leader of the Bektashis, Haji Edmond Brahimaj Mondi, known as Baba Mondi.
Baba Mondi said of the proposed microstate: ‘For our followers, this isn’t about political power or land acquisition; it’s about solidifying the Bektashi Order’s mission of spiritual moderation and protecting our religious practices.
‘Albania has historically been a beacon of religious coexistence, and this step is a testament to the forward-thinking nature of the Albanian government under visionary leadership of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who recognized the importance of granting us the space to continue promoting peace.
‘For our community worldwide, it is a moment of pride and renewal, strengthening our identity and presence on the global stage.’
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