Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama is considering granting sovereign state status to the world headquarters of Bektashism, a ...

Behind Edi Rama’s announcement of a Vatican-type ‘microstate’ for the Bektashi movement in Tirana, some critics of his rule see a bid to distract attention from domestic scandals and win ...

Ever heard of the ‘Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order’? You most likely haven’t, at least not yet. But if all goes to plan, it will soon become the world’s smallest microstate — a ...

The mini state, whose territory will consist of around 0.1 square kilometers, is planned to be the “Vatican” of the Shi’ite Bektashi Sufi order. BABA MONDI, leader of the Bektashi sect of ...

Her scholarly interests include medieval and early modern Middle East, social and cultural history of the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman-Safavid borderlands, Sufism, nonconformist religious movements, ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

'The Night of 40 Martyrs' is one of the most important rituals of the mystical Bektashi dervishes. This is the first time this ritual has been completely caught on camera.

Ever heard of the ‘Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order’? You most likely haven’t, at least not yet. But if all goes to plan, it will soon become the world’s smallest microstate — a ...