Albania plans to create a religious mini-state for moderate Muslims modeled after the Vatican
In Albania, they plan to create a unique religious microstate, which will be an analogue of the Catholic Vatican, but for the Muslim Bektashi order. This project is intended to be an example of a “tolerant version of Islam”, where alcohol will be allowed, and women will be able to choose any clothing without restrictions. About this informs New York Times.
The new state, named the Sovereign Order of Bektashi, will be located in a sleepy area of Tirana, the capital of Albania, on an area of 10 hectares, which is only a quarter of the size of the Vatican, the smallest state in the world. The state will have a special sovereign status within Albania, and its head will be 65-year-old Baba Mondi, the supreme leader of the Bektashi order, which originated in the 13th century in Turkey.
Baba Mondi noted that while the new state might need a small intelligence service, it would not have its own army, border guards or judiciary. He added that final details, including citizenship, still need to be worked out.
The leader of the religious order also said he had abandoned claims for the return of lands that belonged to the Bektash before Albania’s communist regime led by Enver Hoxha outlawed all religions in the country in 1967.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is a supporter of the project, explained that the purpose of creating this microstate is to spread a tolerant image of Islam that will represent the Albanian religious identity. He emphasized that the new state will provide an opportunity to demonstrate that Islam can be open and tolerant.
“Moderate Muslim microstate sends important message: Don’t let stereotypes define who Muslims are”, – emphasized Rama.
Currently, a team of legal experts is working on the preparation of a draft law that will determine the status of the new state within Albania. After that, the document will be presented to the parliament, where the ruling Socialist Party of Rama has a majority.
For now, it remains unclear which countries will recognize the sovereignty of the new microstate, and whether Albania will receive the support of its NATO allies, since it has been a member of the Alliance since 2009 and has not yet held consultations on this issue.
