A *very* strange move by the Albanian government. Nobody seems to know what it means, and everyone was surprised when the announcement was made. Essentially, the Prime Minister Edi Rama wants to create a micro-state for the Bektashi Order, a peculiar Islamic group with a semi-secret syncretist religion often described as a blend of Shia Islam, Christianity and shamanism, while nominally being Sunni.
The article hints at Albania hosting a number of controversial political/religious Islamic movements: the Iranian MEK, which fights the current Iranian regime, and the Turkish Gülen movement, which opposes Erdogan´s government. Perhaps there is a connection here? Do the Albanians have a policy of supporting "dissident" Muslims? Historically, the Bektashi have been associated with Albanian nationalism and are the only religious group mentioned with some respect in the writings of Communist leader Enver Hoxha!
There are two religious micro-states in Europe: the Vatican and the Orthodox "monastic republic" at Mount Athos. There are also the Knights of Malta, who have extra-territorial status. Make Europe strange again!
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