Inside Albania's planned Muslim microstate

Proposal for 'Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order', a Vatican-style enclave, has sparked confusion, praise and heated debate

The Bektashi World Center in Tirana, which serves as the international headquarters of the Sufi sect
The Bektashi World Center in Tirana, which serves as the international headquarters of the Sufi sect and would form the heart of the proposed microstate
(Image credit: Artur Widak / NurPhoto / Getty Images)

Albania's prime minister has revealed plans to establish a microstate for Sufi Muslims within the country's capital, Tirana. At the UN General Assembly last week, Prime Minister Edi Rama said the enclave for the Bektashi Muslim minority would be "similar to the Vatican" and act as a "new centre of moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence". If the plan goes ahead, it would be the smallest sovereign state in the world.

"As often happens in Albania, many experts and the public were completely in the dark about the details of the government's plan," said Deutsche Welle. "For most, the decision came entirely out of the blue."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us