Is Bektashism becoming a tool of Israel against Islam, Iran, and Turkey in the balkans?

This article examines the evolving role of Bektashism in Albania, particularly its alignment with Israel and its implications for relations with the Islamic world, Iran, and Turkey. It explores how Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, in collaboration with Bektashi leader Baba Edmond Brahimaj (Baba Mondi), has pursued policies that distance the Bektashis from its traditional Islamic institutions while fostering closer ties with Israel. The article highlights key events, such as the establishment of a Bektashi state in Tirana, the hosting of the Iranian Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK) organization, and the expulsion of Iran’s diplomatic mission, as part of a broader strategy to align Albania with Israeli and U.S. interests. It also discusses the persecution of Sunni and Shia Muslims in Albania, the influence of Gülenists in the Albanian Muslim Community, and the Bektashi sect’s shift from Iranian-version of Shia Islam to a pro-Israeli stance. The article argues that these developments reflect a deliberate effort to create a "Shia-Zionist" Islam that serves Israeli geopolitical goals, while isolating the Bektashis from the broader Muslim world. Critics, including Turkish and Albanian analysts, view the Bektashi state project as a tool of Israeli influence aimed at dividing Muslim unity and countering Iran’s regional influence. The article concludes by questioning whether Bektashism is being weaponized as a political instrument against Islam, Iran, and Turkey in the Balkans.