Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has proposed creating a sovereign microstate for the Bektashi Muslim Order in Tirana, which would be smaller than Vatican City if the unprecedented plan is implemented.
The proposed state would grant sovereignty to the Bektashi Order, a Sufi Islamic community with significant historical presence in Albania, establishing what Rama envisions as a model of moderate Islam and religious tolerance.
The initiative has sparked considerable controversy and negative backlash within Albania, with critics raising constitutional concerns and questioning the political motivations behind creating a state within a state on Albanian territory.
Georgetown University's Berkley Center and regional analysts have noted the complex geopolitical implications of the proposal, highlighting tensions between Albania's foreign policy objectives, national heritage preservation, and potential religious-political complications.
If realized, the Bektashi microstate would represent an extraordinary experiment in religious sovereignty and could reshape discussions about faith-based governance, though the proposal faces substantial legal, political, and social obstacles before becoming reality.
