Tomorrow, the Namazgjasë Mosque in Tirana is set to be inaugurated in a ceremony that will include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The Muslim Community of Albania (KMSH) will be represented at the event by the Mufti of Tirana, Gazment Teqja. However, this decision has sparked controversy, with former KMSH president Skënder Bruçaj accusing external political factors of interference in the matter of the Namazgjasë Mosque and criticizing the absence of KMSH's current leader at the event.
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| At Namazgjasë Mosque you can see the flags of Turkey and Albania in each minaret |
Political Involvement in a Religious Space
Skënder Bruçaj voiced his concerns to *Voice of America* about the mosque's inauguration, highlighting what he called a "harsh political interference" by external actors. According to Bruçaj, the mosque was built with voluntary donations from Turkish Muslim believers, not with public Turkish government funds. He pointed out that KMSH had the opportunity to collaborate with other international donors but ultimately chose Turkey due to long-standing contributions from Turkish Muslims and a protocol signed by Bruçaj and the late KMSH president Haxhi Selim Muça with Diyanet, Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs.
Bruçaj also criticized the decision not to invite the current KMSH president, Bujar Spahiu, to the ceremony, calling it a "disgrace" and suggesting that the event's political nature made it better for Spahiu not to attend. In contrast, KMSH’s vice president, Taulant Bica, downplayed the significance of the absence, emphasizing that the mosque's inauguration is more important than the rank of those representing the institution.
Debate Over Mosque’s Management
Another key issue surrounding the Namazgjasë Mosque is its future management. According to KMSH, the mosque will be administered by a foundation led by Mufti Gazment Teqja, with members from both the Albanian and Turkish sides. This has raised questions about external involvement in the mosque's management, which Bruçaj sees as problematic.
Bruçaj expressed concerns that this management structure could undermine the mosque's independence, emphasizing that in previous agreements, the keys to the mosque were to be handed over to KMSH. He argued that religious sites should remain under the full authority of KMSH and that political involvement compromises their spiritual nature.
Concerns Over Turkish Influence
Bruçaj also raised broader concerns about Turkey's influence in Albania's religious affairs. He highlighted that since KMSH's founding 100 years ago, it has adhered to the principle that imams in Albania should be Albanian citizens, appointed by the Muslim Community of Albania. In contrast, the Turkish religious authority is appointed by the Turkish state, which Bruçaj sees as an inappropriate influence in Albania.
These tensions have been further complicated by rumors of a Turkish imam being appointed to lead the new mosque. Although these claims were dismissed by KMSH as the work of a self-declared individual, the controversy illustrates the broader concerns about Turkish involvement in Albania's religious affairs.
A Political Event in a Spiritual Setting
As the inauguration of the Namazgjasë Mosque approaches, it remains a point of contention. For some, like Bruçaj, the event is seen as more political than spiritual, reflecting the increasing entanglement of external political interests in Albania's religious institutions. For others, the focus is on the completion of the mosque itself, a long-awaited place of worship for the Muslim community in Albania. Regardless, the inauguration marks an important moment in Albania’s religious and political landscape, one that will likely have lasting repercussions.