Curriculum Vitae
THE WORLD LEADER OF THE BEKTASHI
HIS GRACE
HAXHI DEDE BABA EDMOND BRAHIMAJ
Hajji Dede Baba Edmond Brahimaj was born in Tirana on May
19, 1959, from devoted believers of Bektashism, from the
village Brataj of Vlora. After graduating from the 8 year school,
he continued his studies at the Skanderbeg high School and
reached High scores which gave him the right to pursue
University military studies at the Land Forces Academy, today "Skanderbeg ''. From 1982 to
1990 he served in various military functions, in Burrel and Peshkopi. With the revival of
Bektashi faith in the late 90's, together with other clergy and other believers, he participated in
the Organizing Council of the Holy See of the Bektashi World Headquarters.
At the beginning of 1991, he was released from his military duty by taking over the charge of
organizing the Bektashi Community. It is worth to point out that even in the most difficult
conditions, when the practice of religious belief in Albania was banned by a special article of the
Constitution, his parents' home in Tirana served to keep alive Bektashism, and risk too much
because the regime that did not forgive.
On January 2, 1992, he “took the hand” to his spiritual leader, Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi and
Baba Barjam Mahmutaj, thus finally entering the path of bright Piri Haji Bektash Veliu. Here
begins his religious career. On May 16, 1996, he was proclaimed with the Order "Dervish",
immediately charged with duty at the Bektashi Tekke of Korça, in Turan's tekke.
His hard work on the continuity and revival of the Bektashi faith in Librazhd, Pogradec, Mokër,
Korçë, Devoll and Kavajë, on April 13, 1997, is decreed with the title "Baba'' and after passing
from this life his spiritual father Bajram Mahmutaj is appointed as the first vice Headfather of
Bektashi World Leader Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi. In this high function, his contribution has
been especially valuable in the design, preparation and realization of the three consecutive
congresses of Bektashism. Even at the last two congresses (Tirana 2000 and 2005), he has
reported on the responsibility of the representative of the Height GrandFather Council.
In March 2006, with the passing of Baba Tahir Emini's life, he was also nominated for the
function of the grandfather of the Bektashi Tekke in Macedonia. His contribution has been as far
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as the organization of believing communities there, even in terms of recognition from
internationals. Both in Korca and Tetovo, Haxhi Baba Edmond Brahimaj has manifested the
outstanding qualities of the Bektashi cleric in the doctrinal, moral and civic aspect, becoming the
factor of religious tolerance among other religions. In 2004 for his valuable contribution, the
Council of Municipality of Korça County honored him with the highest title "Honorary District
of Korça".
He has received many praise and high consideration from the governments of Albania and
Macedonia, civil associations, and also the accredited diplomatic corps in Skopje highly regarded
as a man with all the attributes of a religious leader, especially his peaceful role in Harabati
Baba, tekke in Tetovo and its way, faced with legal discrimination against the Bektashi
community, using wisdom, intelligence, and remains the man with the words wise and sweet.
From 1992 and in continuity Hadji Baba Edmond Brahimaj participated in training of prestigious
international organizations, and doctrinal, symposiums and various activities of religious, human
and social character, where he also referred, bringing the voice and experiences of the Bektashi
communities anywhere in the world.On June 14, 2003, at the International Conference
"Religions and Civilizations in the New Millennium'' refers to the challenges of Bektashism in
the future. In June 2004, with the training of the organization of the Albanian Traditional
Religious Communities, he visited the White House in the US. From the board of this
organization he deserved the title "Peace Ambassador''. He went to the US invited by the State
Department and the US Embassy in Albania for a 21 day period of religious diversity training
organized by the United States. He has participated several times at the 16 August celebrations at
Hadji Bektash, where he was hosted by senior Turkish state leaders as well as at the Hadji
Bektash Veliu Institute at the Turkish Gas University. He has also been present and contributed
with his lectures in analogous activities in Tirana, Skopje, Pristina, Ohrid, Istanbul, Ankara,
Afiyon, Stuttgart Cologne, and Detroit, USA. Participating in the World pilgrimage to Hajj in
Mecca, 2004. Participating in holy visits to Jerusalem in Israel in 2007. He was invited to the
33rd World Religion Freedom Congress in India and together with the prominent religious
leader Dalai Lama. He attended three World Religion conferences in Macedonia 2006-2011. He
finished law studies at the State University of Tetova, Macedonia.
After passing away from the life of the former Bektashis World Leader, Hadji Dede Reshat
Bardhi, Hadji Father Eddmond Brahimaj on June 11, 2011 was elected to the post of Bektashis
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World Headquarters. These years as the Bektashi World Leader, His Eminence, Haxhi Dede
Edmond Brahimaj, has worked with dedication by continuing the path of Dede Reshat Bardhi,
the Bektashi tradition in institutional affiliation in and outside the country. There has been a busy
agenda throughout this period of time in various international activities around the world. In the
Balkan countries, there have been meetings with Presidents and Prime Ministers of Turkey,
Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina ,
Kosovo.
But the most important meetings are: Meeting with Council of Europe representatives on
religious issues in 2012.
Turkish High Representative Meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan, Turkish Presidency, and High
Representative of the Turkish Muslim Community in 2013. Participant at the 100th Anniversary
Conference of the "Vatra'' Society in 2013, White House personalities meeting in the US with
Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013, the World Conference on Peace in Peja, Kosovo, year
2013.Visit to the holy places of Iraq in the city of Nexhef, Qerbela, Kufa, Baghdad, April 2014.
Participate in the Peace Summit in Seoul September 2014,2015,2017. Meeting with Pope Francis
in Tirana 21st of September 2014.In international activity for peace among peoples 9 -12
October 2014, Palermo-Italy.
He attended the White March with representatives of the four religious communities of Albania
in Paris, France, in January 2015. He made it possible to realize Dede Reshat Bardhi's dream at
the magnificent inauguration of the Bektashi prayer place in Tirana with participation of
personalities from many world countries on September 7, 2015.
Meeting with Pope Francis on May 10, 2016 in the Vatican. On June 17, 2016 he participated in
the inauguration of the bust of "Mother Teresa, in the province of Munich, organization of the
Cultural Association" Sali Çekaj ", September 4, 2016 participates in Mother's Teresa
Sanctification, Rome-Italy, Meeting with the Istanbul Ecumenical Patriarch, Istanbul's First
Bartholomew in Istanbul, September 2016, and this month the UN World Peace Academy
awarded the title "Doctor Honoris Causa." October 9, 2016 attends the ceremony of
announcement of the "Cardinal" of Albanian Dom Ernest Troshan.
March 22, 2017, "The Sultan Nevruz Day" is a grand international manifestation according to
Bektashi rituals, followed by 27 televisions from different countries of the world. On May 25,
2017, is the organizer of the second year "Bektashi Culture Day" in Paris, France. June 2017
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participates in Berlin's "Breakfast of Prayers". This month also organizes the magnificent activity
of the 500th anniversary of the Ballem Sultan Second Pyrus of Bektashism, Tiranë-Martanesh.
September 2017 participates in the Third Conference of Religious Leaders for World Peace in
Seoul, South Korea.14 October in Skopje, Macedonia, organizer of the International Conference
on "The Bektashi Religious Community Order Premime" Speaker and honorary guest
participated Joseph Weinerholster, under the chair of the European Parliament. October 2017
meeting in Brussels on the problem of Harabati Baba Tetovo with members of EP and EU
Reporter for Albania, Knut Fleckentein. His participation at the International Conference on
Religions, Pluralist Culture for Middle East Peace, Athens Greece October 30, 2017. November
2017 participates in the ceremony of raising the bust of "Mother Teresa" in Croatia, together
with the President of the Republic of Albania, Ilir Meta, where he also meets Mr. Stipe Mesic for
future talks on the development of Bektashism in the region and beyond.
January 2018 participates in the International Conference "Iraq after victory over the Islamic
State", organized in cooperation with the European Dialogue between Religions. 7 February
2018 is the organizer of the jubilee of the 480th anniversary of the founding of Harabati Baba,
Tetovo -Macedoni, attended by accredited embassies in Macedonia, representatives of OSCE,
intellectuals, professors from Balkan countries and Albania. This was the occasion of the
presentation of the photographic exhibition in this rare event.
On september 21. 2018 The Headquarter of Bektashi Community was registered in the
Transparency Register of the EU , for the first time His Holiness opened an office of Bektashis in
Brussels. On 25 June 2019 Hadji Dede Edmond Brahimaj participate in the meeting of Freedom
of Religion of Belief, roundtable in the Brussels EU.On June 26, 2019 Dr. Munr Kazmir vice
President of Jews Congress honored and donate in sign of gratitude His Holiness and Bektashi
Community American Flag. On 11-12 June 2019 Hadji Dede Edmond Brahimaj was a special
guest in the awarding on the " Global Official Dignity Awards' ' in the 7-th edition held in
Geneva Switzerland. On July 16.2019 His Holiness participated in the Conference `` Freedom of
Religion '', invited by the Ministerial of Advance , Religious Freedom 2019 Washington D.C
Department of State US.
His Holiness has received honorary titles:
“Ambassador of Peace”, 2004
“Honorary of the Korça Region”, 2004.
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“Honorary Citizen” of the Zerqan-Bulqizë Commune., June 10, 2014
“Honorary Citizen” of the Martanesh-Bulqizë Commune., June 29, 2014
“Honorary Citizen” of the Bogovë-Skrapar Commune, August 22, 2014
“Honorary Citizen” of the Frashër-Përmet Commune, May 25, 2014.
“Outstanding Personality of Labëria, “Labëria” Association, February 2015
“Honorary Citizen” of the Fier Region, March 2015.
“Honorary Citizen” of the Berat Region, May 2015.
“Knight of Skanderbeg” Order, September 7 2015 by the President of the Republic.
“Dr. Honorus Causa”, UN Mission, September 2016
Honor of the Municipality of Bulqizë, October 2016
Gratitude from President Obama USA, January 2017.
Gold Award “Icon of Peace” United Nations Association, “G.O.D Awards” October 2017.
“Honorary Citizen” of Skrapar, Municipality of Skrapar, January 2018.
On June 26, 2019, Dr. Munr Kazmir, Vice President of the Jewish Congress, and the Embassy of
the United States of America in Tirana honored and donated the American Flag as a sign of
gratitude to His Holiness and the Bektashi Community.
"For the outstanding contribution to the spread of the word of God and the highest values among
people".
In January 2021, His Holiness headed the Presidency of the Interreligious Council of Albania.
During his term as Chairman of the IRCA the Interreligious Council of Albania was decorated
with the high medal “Honor of the Nation”. The President of the Republic, H.E. Ilir Meta,
decorated the Interreligious Council of Albania with the high medal “Honor of the Nation” on
March 22, 2021. The high decoration “Honor of the Nation” was awarded with the motivation:
“In appreciation of the comprehensive contribution to preserving and promoting the spirit of
harmony, understanding and coexistence between religions in Albania. For the clear messages
addressed to believers and Albanian politics to aim for peace, unity, progress and orientation
towards patriotic values for a common and optimistic life; as well as for the important role in
elevating the Albanian model of interreligious dialogue in the international arena”.
H. Dede Edmond Brahimaj is honored with the "Ring of Tolerance" award in Germany
November 2021. The European Academy of Sciences at the Technical University of Cologne in
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Germany has awarded H. Dede Edmond Brahimaj, the World Grandmaster of the Bektashi Order
and at the same time Chairman of the Interreligious Council for the year 2021, the "Ring of
Tolerance" award with the motivation "for his valuable efforts and efforts in the commitment to
peace and the promotion of interreligious dialogue, as a special and worthy example to follow in
building, promoting and protecting tolerance."
The award ceremony took place at the premises of the European Academy of Sciences at the
University of Cologne in Germany, where academic participated also religious personalities
2022 awarded the title "Honor of the Laberia Association"
February 2023 awarded the title "Honor of the Vlora Region"
2023 "Honor of the Gjirokaster Region", and "Honorary Citizen of the city of Tepelene"
November 2023 The International Police Association (IPA) Awards the World Grand Master,
His Holiness, Haxhi Dede Edmond Brahimaj the Title: 'Honor of the IPA Section - Albania'
May 2024 citizen "Honor of the country of Librazhd"
December 2024 awarded the title "Honor of the Tomorri Association"
January 16, 2025 Meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican and signing of the bilateral
agreement "Brotherhood in Humanism" in Abu Dhabi.
World Bektashi Headquarter