Representatives of the Bektashis of Turkey have opposed the idea of ​​creating a “Sovereign Bektashi State”.

The head of the Alevi Bektashi Federation of Turkey, Zeynel Abedin Koç, has told the Turkish media that the Bektashis are only 5% of the Albanian population and that the Alevi-Bektash philosophy considers all 72 nations as one, and advises them all to be sovereign in their actions.

Alevi Bektashiane has stated that they will never approve the creation of a religious state.

As Alevi living in Turkey, we continue our stance in favor of secularism. Bektashism is a belief system originating from However, approximately 115 thousand Bektashites live in Albania. This covers 5 percent of Albania’s population. We never approve a state based on faith”, said the chairman of the Alevi Bektashi Federation of Turkey, Zeynel Abedin Koç.

Ali Balkız, former chairman of the Alevi Bektashi Federation and writer-author, shares the same opinion with him.

“The Bektashi Alevi faith has lived in these lands for centuries. Later, it spread to the Balkans with the Ottoman Empire and reached as far as Hungary. Albania is one of these countries. Alevi Bektashi philosophy holds together 72 nations. The religious state is not fair. Every state has authority, but there is freedom in the Alevi Bektashi faith,” said Ali Balkız.

Huseyin Guzelgul, chairman of the Alevi Bektashi Federation, stated that he considers the various steps taken by the states in terms of accepting the Alevi Bektashi faith in the world generally positive and shares the opinion that the Bektashi faith and the religious state cannot coexist.

Güzelgül said, “We do not see a state based on religion as a right. Such a thing cannot happen where there is tolerance, peace and love”.