An esoteric Muslim Vatican could become the world’s next country

Published April 16, 2025 9:50pm ET



A little-known Islamic sect is looking to establish its own state in Albania, equivalent to an Islamic Vatican City.

There are over two billion Muslims in the world today, making up roughly a quarter of the global population. The overwhelming majority, 87%-90%, are Sunni Muslims, while the remaining 10%-13% are Shia Muslims. These totals can be further broken down into minor heterodox sects, including Ismailis, Alawites, and Druze. One of the smallest sects is the Bektashis, an esoteric Sufi order generally considered to be under the Shia umbrella.

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