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Its goal will be to organize and protect Bektashis worldwide.
Last year, Prime Minister Edi Rama floated the idea of creating a “Bektashi state.” The prime minister even said that this state would lie within the borders of the World Bektashi Patriarchate, which has around 100,000 members.
Baba Mondi also envisions a state similar to the Vatican, on a small piece of land that would serve as a model for love and tolerance.
"Our state will be a truly small spiritual and administrative state, but with a big heart," the Bektashi leader, dressed in a white tunic and with a green jacket and hat, told AFP in Tirana.
He then added, "the whole world will be able to see the light of the Bektashis."
The creation of a religious state in Albania was unthinkable during the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, who completely banned religion and persecuted clergy and priests.
Hundreds of clergy from all faiths were executed, imprisoned, and exiled, while places of worship were destroyed.
But since the fall of communism in the early 1990s, there has been a surge of religious expression throughout Albania.
The Bektashis rank as the fourth largest religious community in Albania, after Sunni Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics.
And while the bureaucratic details of its operation are in the final stages of discussion, along with an official date for its launch, Baba Mondi has ambitious plans for his future state.
"This state will have neither police, nor army, nor taxes, it will be spiritual," said the Bektashi leader, emphasizing that his goal will be to organize and protect Bektashis worldwide.
According to Baba Mondi, the Bektashi state would also advocate for persecuted members living in countries where they do not have the right to practice their religion "such as in Turkey or Iran."
The future state will be located on land where a Bektashi temple already stands in Tirana and will occupy just 0.11 square kilometers - making it the smallest state on earth. The Vatican currently holds the title with just 0.44 square kilometers of territory.
"We are for peace and love"
The Bektashi Order was founded in the 13th century in the Ottoman Empire and is considered a tolerant, mystical branch of Islam open to other religions and philosophies.
Several key leaders moved to Albania after being banned in Turkey by the founding father of the modern state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in the early 20th century.
Unlike the more conservative beliefs of Islam, Bektashi believers - men and women - worship together and the consumption of alcohol is permitted.
"Wherever they are, the Bektashis have always expressed love, generosity, and respect for humans as the most perfect creatures in this world," says Baba Mondi.
And then he adds "we are against conflicts caused by extremists, we are for peace and love."
“We must take care of this treasure that is religious tolerance, so that we can preserve and promote it,” Prime Minister Rama said during a speech in January, marking the 95th anniversary of the transfer of the Bektashi holy see from Turkey to Albania.
He has not yet revealed a timeline for the creation of the state. But for Baba Mondi and his Sufi followers, the future is filled with possibilities.
"Bektashism has been and will remain a bridge between East and West," said Baba Mondi, adding "we have always been a middle way in this world to show that we can live with love, peace and kindness." / Adapted Pamphlet from rte.ie /
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