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

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.

In this photo taken Thursday, March 22, 2012, Sufi dervishes from the Bektashi Order participate in a ceremony to mark Nowruz, in western Kosovo town of Prizren. The Kosovo Sufi community performs centuries-old mystical practices, such as self-piercing

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