The theologian Justinian Topulli sees with great disbelief the newest initiative announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, for the creation of a " Bektashi " state within the Albanian territory.
" There in the text of the "New York Times" it said that "women will be allowed without headscarves". Why, what does it have to do with mentioning that thing there? Or "the use of alcohol will be allowed". Why should it be mentioned? The Albanian state prohibits prostitution. In that Bektashi state it can be allowed for example. The Albanian state does not allow gay marriage, it can be allowed there. Or for all I know, all sorts of things can be made up there. Hashashi, for example, because our prime minister has some tendencies to tolerate it for medical reasons. So there is talk of a free zone ", said Topulli in "Off the Record".
"We are dealing with a megalomaniacal man, who will put himself in history with such things. There is an ethical umbrella that protects him, religiously, and says: You are a Muslim who forbids it, this is a Muslim who allows it".
According to him, this initiative contradicts the historical role that Bektashi believers and clergy have played in the history of Albania.
"The Bektashi, due to the conflict they created with the Ottoman Empire, since a good part, the leadership, were Albanians, emphasized the national identity of Albanians and Albanian nationalism and became one of those who contributed. And they contributed to these Bektashian Albanians being part of this state. And they have always been identified as Albanians. They even call Naim Frashëri a Bektashi saint", said Topulli.
" While comparing it with the Vatican. The Vatican was born as a process of conflict between the Italian state and the papal state, due to a political and armed conflict. So you, willingly or unwillingly, make the Bektashians unpatriotic, because you create a precedent... These Bektashins have fought for the creation of the Albanian state, meanwhile now suddenly they don't want the Albanian state, they want a state that is a completely sectarian identity... ".
The 19-year-old man was arrested in Shkodër for driving a motorcycle without a license and not stopping the police
According to him, this initiative may be intentional to reduce the number of Muslims.
" And to remove the stigma that they suffer, that we are a country with a Muslim majority. We're not anymore, because we're down to 45% now. A part will become Bektashi now, because of the pleasure of getting Bektashi passports, and we will fall to 20-30%... This is intentional, it is political. The Bektashi have tried to be misused by politics, but they have not succeeded thanks to the wisdom of those wise men ", said Topulli.