Albania proposes Vatican-Style Sufi microstate in Tirana

Albania has planned to create a sovereign microstate for the Bektashi, which is a liberal Sufi Muslim order, in its capital city of Tirana. This plan, which is like Vatican, was presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama in a speech at the United Nations, as reported by The New York Times and Deutsche Welle.

The envisaged "Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order" would cover approximately 10 hectares (25 acres) in eastern Tirana, smaller even than Vatican City.

The Bektashi Order was founded in the 13th century in the Ottoman Empire and is now centered in Albania since 1929, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk banned it in Turkey. The Bektashi constitute about 10% of all Muslims in Albania.

The proposed micro-state would be led by Baba Mondi, the religious leader of the order, and be ruled by a council of religion. The state would possess its own government and grant passports but not an army, police, or a taxing regime. Citizenship would be reserved only for religious clergy and administrative personnel.

As a gesture toward the liberalising influence of the Bektashi Order, the enclave would permit liquor to be consumed and dressing to be performed openly—factors distinguishing it from more conservative Islamic practice.

Prime Minister Rama stated the move was an expression of Albania's ancient religious tolerance and commitment to coexisting. "This shall be a space of spiritual independence and conviviality, and not political segregation," he said to journalists.

The plan was, however, criticised by some. Albania's Sunni Muslim Community complained, terming the plan a "dangerous precedent," and noted that it was not consulted when the plan was formulated.

To move forward, the Albanian Parliament must amend Article 1(2) of the Constitution, which states that the state is a "unitary and indivisible state." This would require a two-thirds majority vote, as per the DW report.

If it is approved, the microstate would be the world's smallest independent state and the world's sole state-approved religious autonomy.