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“Love of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S) was the only reason that kept Islam alive during the communist era”: Interview with member of Islamic Center of Albania

SHAFAQNA– The deputy chief of Tirana’s Islamic Center has spoken with Shafaqna Farsi about the situation of the Shia community. He says there is no seminary in the Balkans country while a number of Shia centers have been shut down.

Bulent Mereya explains to Shafaqna that Islam entered Albania in 1447 when the Ottoman Turks invaded the Balkans Peninsula. The rule of the Turks for five centuries left almost 95 per cent of the Albania Muslims and Ottomans built lots of madrasas and mosques. He says when the Communist Party led by Anwar Khoja took power they ruined mosques, husseiniyahs and religious schools. A 1967 law banned religious beliefs and performing Muslim duties such as prayers or reciting the Quran. Anyone caught acting against this law would had landed in jail for up to 20 years. Thousands of Muslims who protested these bans were executed.

When asked about the Shia population of Albania Meyera says most of the Albanian Shias live in the capital Tirana. They face no restriction and can easily speak of Shiism or invite people to this faith. The government does not impose any segregation between the Shia and the Sunni and Shias have easy access to religious books and run websites for themselves.

en.shafaqna-Shia centers shut down in Albania: Interview with member of Islamic Center of Tirana

According to Bulent Mereya, the Shias have Halal meat and food, their women can wear Hijab as Sunni women do. Mereya says the only problem is that the Shia do not have a school of their own and their children have to study at elementary state schools and then to go to Sunni-run religious schools. Female Shia students are not allowed to wear Hijab at school but there is no girls universities. The deputy chief of Tirana Islamic Center regrets that no seminary (or Hawza) exists in Albania and Shia centers including Sa’adiya College and Rumi Foundation were shut down. He says the only center remaining open is Naseem Center.

When asked about relations between the Shias and Sunnis, Mereya stresses that Albanian Muslims either Shia or Sunni love the Ahl al-Bayt, adding Sunni Albanians have many common beliefs the same as the Shia. The love of Ahl al- Bayt is a common tradition not only among Muslims but also among the Christians. Sunni scholars have translated Shia books into Albanian language. Shia and Sunni Muslims observe Ashura ceremonies; wear black and fast in the first 10 days of the month of Muharram. Bulent says the love of Ahl al-Bayt was the only reason that kept Islam alive during the communist era.

Bulent Mereya notes that apart from lack of Shia religious schools, another problem the Shia face is the presence of anti-Iran terrorist cult MEK in Albanian.

Read more from Shafaqna:

Memorializing The Muslims Who Saved Albania’s Jews 

Pope visits Albania to highlight Muslim-Christian harmony

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