Albania is set to embark on the creation of a sovereign microstate in its capital, Tirana, dedicated to the Bektashi Order, a Shiite Sufi order with roots dating back to the 13th century in Turkey. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the initiative, which aims to foster a more tolerant interpretation of Islam through the establishment of the "Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order." This statelet, occupying a 10-hectare area, will operate autonomously within Albania, with its own administrative system, passports, and defined borders. If realized, this microstate will become the world's smallest, dwarfing even Vatican City's size, and will adopt the Bektashi Order's principles of religious tolerance and inclusivity.

The Bektashi Order, with its mystical traditions deeply embedded in Albanian history, found its way to Tirana almost a century ago following a prohibition in Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Despite advocating for an interpretation of Islam that is void of strict lifestyle regulations, the Bektashis have faced persecution throughout history, necessitating their dispersal to neighboring regions like Kosovo and Macedonia during the Ottoman Empire's expansion into the Balkans. Today, the spiritual leader of the Bektashi Order, Dervish Baba Mondi, emphasizes that the governance of the new microstate will be guided by values of love and kindness, mirroring the community's foundation of peace, love, and mutual respect.

The establishment of the Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order represents Albania's commitment to upholding its legacy of religious tolerance. Though the intricate legislative framework defining the state's sovereignty is currently under development, the prospect of international recognition, particularly from Western powers like the United States, remains a hopeful aspiration for the Bektashi community. With an emphasis on truthful interpretations of Islam and the separation of religion from politics, the Bektashi Order seeks to carve out a distinct space where its principles of tolerance and compassion can flourish unhindered.