TIRANA TIMES – TIRANA, April 5
TIRANA, April 5 – President Bamir Topi awarded the Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu Order to the leaders of the four traditional religious communities in Albania.
The order was given to Hajji Selim Muca of the Muslim community, Archbishop Anastassios Yanoulatos of the Orthodox autocephalous Church, Archbishop Rrok Mirdita of the Tirana and Durres Catholic Metropolis and Hajji Dede Reshat Bardhi of the Bektashi community “for their distinguished contribution and activity in reviving the spiritual faith and hope for a better future, for the resurrection of the institution of cult and further strengthening and enriching the inter-religious harmony, tolerance and coexistence of the Albanian people.
Albania takes pride in being an example of the religious harmony.
Albania is mostly Muslim with large Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholic minorities, though most Albanians live very secular lives. Practicing religion was banned from 1967 until Communism fell in 1990.
