The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, participated in the reception on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Albanian Muslim Community.

Appreciating the contribution of the Muslim Community, President Begaj said that, “in these 100 years of its activity, the Muslim Community has proven that service to the nation and faith are a value and a mission”.

“Anyone who knows the history of the Albanian Muslim Community is touched by the essence and patriotic character that lies at the foundation of the formation of this institution. Today is the occasion to recall the fact that religious communities, among them the Islamic Community of Albania, are important contributors to the Independence of Albania and a consolidating stone of the Albanian state. The organization of Muslim believers, who made up the majority of the country’s population, in an institution on a national basis, completely Albanian and independent from foreign religious institutions, is an indication of how important and sacred independence and sovereignty was for Albanian clerics and Muslims, even in the religious framework. As the fruit of the long-standing efforts of Albanian Muslim clerics, the Muslim Community of Albania has proven over the years that religion and nation for them were and are inseparable as two notions that do not exclude each other. In their activity, they took care of maintaining social cohesion with other faiths, aware that maintaining harmony within the population with many faiths in a ‘fragile’ state was a vital necessity for the nation,” said the Head of State.

Next, Begaj said that, “The Muslim community, as the largest community, had the responsibility but also the credit for this imperative of the time”.

“National brotherhood among all Albanians was another mission that the Community set itself as a goal from its birth. Since the first Congress of the Albanian Muslim Community, the words of the first Chief Mufti of Albania, Haxhi Vehbi Dibra remain relevant and meaningful emphasizing brotherhood among the three religious communities in the service of the nation’s interests. Without a doubt, the coexistence and religious harmony between different religious communities in Albania is a precious and rare asset, and the Albanian Muslim community has contributed to this since its foundation.

Another important aspect of the commitment of this community, over the years, has been helping the needy, as a work that brings them closer to God. The emblematic case is that of Mr. Zyber Hallulli, Mufti and Mayor of the Municipality of Tirana in 1913-1914, who opened the orphanage, which still bears his name. As an integral part of society, the clergy, but also members of the Muslim Community of Albania, have proven high responsibility for the destinies of society and the country. Muslim intellectuals educated in the best schools of the time, did not offer their capacities only within the “walls of religious institutions” but on the contrary, they felt the responsibility that the country should be helped in all fields, being open minded to different opinions. A good model of this commitment and respect for the opposition opinion can be found in the pages of the official magazine of the Community “Zani i Naltë”, which gave space and place to retorts and opinions against, in the framework of the national debates of the time about reforms and philosophical currents “, said the President.

Likewise, Begaj added that, “starting from this rich legacy left by the previous clergy, today’s clergy have a great responsibility, that of preserving, cultivating and moving forward this legacy”.

“They must continue to cultivate religious harmony among believers, which we have the right to be proud of, as well as encourage believers to take their civic responsibilities in fulfilling social obligations. On this anniversary, we have a moral and patriotic obligation to honor the memory of those Muslim clerics, some of whom are founders and leaders of this institution, who were persecuted for exercising their faith, a fundamental human right denied by the dictatorial regime. Albanian Muslim clerics such as Hafiz Ali Korca, Hafiz Abdullah Zemblaku, Hafiz Kraja, etc. were resistance fighters against the communist dictatorship in our country. Their determined stance against the regime that tried to destroy the spiritual constitution is a model of devotion to God, the Motherland and believers. After the 1990s, religious communities benefited from their rights enshrined in Article 10 and 24 of the Constitution of Albania, the application of human rights according to the principles of the Council of Europe in our Constitution for the rights of faith,” Begaj emphasized.

Begaj expressed confidence that today’s Albanian Muslim clerics, as well as those of other communities, as spiritual leaders, will continue to work together, to inspire Albanians, to engage together, for the sake of religious faith, for the progress and prosperity of the country, for the well-being of our common home, Albania.

“I want to assure you that as President of the Republic I will continue to be a strong partner of you and of believers of every faith; I will continue to be a supporter and defender of freedom of belief; promoter of religious harmony and coexistence as a national value”, concluded Begaj.

/k.s/