THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN'S APPROACH TO THE BEKTASHIS IN THE BALKANS: THE CASE OF ALBANIA

This study examines the approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the Bektashis in the Balkans. Albania will be examined as a case study, and methods such as case studies, qualitative research, and base-case analysis will be used as the methodology. The article will explore the hypothesis that Iran is leveraging the Bektashis' love for the Ahl al-Bayt and their reverence for the Twelve Imams to exert influence over the Bektashis. The most fundamental finding of the study is that Iran, in line with its policy of exporting revolution and Takrib-i Mezahib, has been trying to influence the Bektashis in the Balkans, particularly their views on the Twelve Imams Mahdi. In this context, Iran is trying to create an impact in the Balkans by emphasizing that the Bektashis' idea of the expected savior, the Mahdi, is the Twelfth Imam Mahdi. However, it seems impossible for the Bektashis to completely abandon Sufism and accept Shiism as a school of jurisprudence, even though they respect the Twelve Imams. It can be said that Bektashism is a Sufi order whose socio-cultural elements are strongly felt, that it is positioned on a different line from traditional Shia jurisprudence in terms of its basic belief characteristics, and that it largely conflicts with the Vilayat-e Faqih system, which is the form of government in Iran.