Persecution of Bektashism through the centuries/ Scientific conference at the Holy See 200 years after the events

2026-07-11 15:00:00, Kulturë CNA

Persecution of Bektashism through the centuries/ Scientific conference at the

A special scientific conference was held by the World Bektashi Patriarchate in Tirana.

The conference on the topic "A Look at Bektashi Persecution Through the Centuries and Survival" was held on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the persecution of the Bektashi Order by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826, under the special patronage of the World Bektashi Grandfather, His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Baba Edmond Brahimaj.

Persecution of Bektashism through the centuries/ Scientific conference at the

In the premises of the World Bektashi Patriarchate, clergy, devotees, believers and well-wishers from the Bektashi patriarchates of Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia gathered, as well as researchers, academics, public figures, representatives of state institutions, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Embassy of Greece, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo.

Persecution of Bektashism through the centuries/ Scientific conference at the

Numerous scientific presentations were held within the framework of the conference, while the welcoming speech of the World Bektashi Grandmaster, His Holiness Haxhi Dede Baba Edmond Brahimaj, was also included.

Persecution of Bektashism through the centuries/ Scientific conference at the

In his speech, he emphasized the importance of historical memory, spiritual endurance, and the legacy that has kept the Bektashi tradition alive across generations. He focused in particular on the two events that united this commemoration: the persecution of the Bektashi Order in 1826 and the passing of the former Bektashi World Grand Patriarch Dede Ahmet Myftari, on July 10, 1980.

"In the life of nations and spiritual orders, there are dates that are not measured by the calendar of years, but by the weight they leave in the historical consciousness of generations. There are events that do not remain just a memory of the past, but become a moral compass for the future. There are people who, even after leaving this world, continue to live in the consciousness of the community as signs of a fulfilled mission. Today we are gathered in front of two of these moments. At first glance, these two events seem separated by a gap of two centuries. But in their essence they are part of the same history," said His Holiness.

At the end of the scientific session, the attendees visited the photographic exhibition "Persecution of Bektashism through the centuries and its survival", prepared especially for this event./CNA