Bektashi Order in the context of "Gjirokastër"

Martanesh (Albanian: Martaneshi) is a geographic and ethnographic region within the Dibër County in eastern Albania. Formerly a commune, at the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Bulqizë. The population at the 2011 census was 1,836. The settlement holding the status of town is Krastë, which was also the center of the commune. The population is largely Bektashi with a rather small Catholic minority, and the commune contains the Teqe of Martanesh.

Borsh (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈbɔɾʃ]; Albanian definite form: Borshi, [ˈbɔɾʃi]) is a maritime village, in the Albanian Riviera, in the former Lukovë municipality, Vlorë County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform, it became part of the Himarë municipality. The village is inhabited by ethnic Albanians, many of whom have traditionally been Bektashi. In Borsh, the Lab dialect of Albanian is spoken.

Borsh borders with Fterra, Qeparo, Piqeras, Kuç, Çorraj, Kalasa, Zhulat, Tatzat, and has a population of 2,500 registered inhabitants.

Islam arrived in Albania mainly during the Ottoman period when the majority of Albanians over time converted to Islam under Ottoman rule. Following the Albanian National Awakening (Rilindja) tenets and the de-emphasis of religious tradition in Albania, all governments in the 20th century pursued a secularization policy, most aggressively under the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, which actively persecuted Muslims. Due to this policy, Islam, as with all other faiths in the country, underwent radical changes. Decades of state atheism, which ended in 1991, brought a decline in the religious practice of all traditions. The post-communist period and the lifting of legal and other government restrictions on religion allowed Islam to revive through institutions that generated new infrastructure, literature, educational facilities, international transnational links and other social activities.

According to the 2023 census, Islam is the largest religion, with a 50.67% majority of Albanians identifying as Muslim, including 1,101,718 (45.86%) Sunni Muslims, and 115,644 (4.81%) Bektashi Muslims.

The Bektashi Order is an Islamic Sufi order that spread to Albania through Albanian janissaries during the period of Ottoman Albania. The Bektashi make up 5% of the country's population. In regards to ethics, the Bektashi adhere to the line "Be master of your hands, your tongue, and your loins" which essentially means do not steal, do not lie or speak idly, and do not commit adultery.

In Albania, the Bektashi Order has taken on a patriotic and nationalistic character, and it has played a major role in the Albanian National Awakening. Bektashi leaders have historically been prominent members in Albanian movements for self-determination and national autonomy, which has contributed to its popularity amongst the Albanians, and for most of Albania's Bektashi community, their affiliation with the order is based on cultural heritage rather than actual religious belief.

Edmond Brahimaj (Albanian: Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj, born 19 May 1959), commonly known as Baba Mondi, is an Albanian religious leader and the eighth Bektashi Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order. He is the leader of the Bektashi Muslims. If the planned nation of the Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order is approved, Baba Mondi will serve as the head of the country in his role as spiritual leader.

Bektashi Dedebabate is the religious leadership of Bektashi Islam. The term Dedebaba comes from Turkish and means the grandfather (grandfather+dad). The dedebabas (Albanian: kryegjysh) are the spiritual and religious leaders of the Bektashi community. Bektashis do not consider them to be divinely appointed leaders. The current and eighth Bektashi debebaba is Baba Mondi.

The World Headquarters of the Bektashi or Bektashi World Center (Albanian: Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane; often simply known in Albanian as the Kryegjyshata) is the international headquarters of the Bektashi Order, a Sufi order. It is located on Dhimitër Kamarda Street at the eastern edge of Tirana, the capital of Albania. It serves as the centre of the Albanian Bektashi Order. The site is proposed to form the territory of the Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order. The headquarters also have a museum, library, and archives.