Are Muslims Truly Friends of Albanians?
A Time for National and Strategic Reflection
By Flamur Bucpapaj
"When religion is used to replace the nation, trust is lost and
servitude is born."
"The religion of Albanians is Albanianism." — Pashko Vasa
"He is not a true Muslim who turns his back on a brother in
need." — Prophetic Hadith
"A true friend is one who stands by you in hard times." —
Albanian proverb
At a time when the world is more complex than ever and
international politics is governed by cold interests, a
fundamental question confronts our national reality: Are
Muslim Arab countries truly friends of Albanians?
And more directly: Is it worth identifying ourselves as Muslims
when most Muslim countries do not even recognize the state of
Kosovo?
Undeniable Facts
Today, more than 15 years after Kosovo declared
independence, a large majority of member states of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)—including Saudi
Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, and many
others—have still not recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state.
Some vote against it in the UN General Assembly or other
international organizations. Some remain silent. Others have
struck strategic deals with Serbia—Albanians’ historical enemy.
Saudi Arabia, for example, has invested millions of dollars over
the years to build mosques in Albania, Kosovo, North
Macedonia, and beyond—but remained silent when it came
time to support Kosovo’s right to self-determination. Other
Arab countries have acted in the same way: instead of standing
by a people who suffered genocide, they have embraced
Serbia’s pragmatic diplomacy, which now lobbies with money
and trade deals in all Arab capitals.
Religion, Brotherhood, or Diplomatic Illusion?
For decades, the idea has been cultivated in Albanian territories
that “we are part of the Islamic world,” that Arab Muslims see
us as “brothers in faith,” and thus will always support us. But
political events—especially since 1999—have shattered this
myth.
In reality, during key historical moments for the Albanian
nation—during the war for liberation, during reconstruction,
and during Kosovo’s state-building phase—decisive decisions
were made and supported by the West: the USA, the UK,
Germany, France, Italy, and NATO partners.
Arab countries not only were absent during these times but
often stood on the other side of history—silently, or even
alongside Serbia.
Should We Be Muslims for Their Sake, or Albanians for Our
Own?
Albanians are a unique people in Europe: majority Muslim, but
with a deeply secular, Western culture and a strong national
identity. This is what has saved and sustained us. Religion, as
Pashko Vasa said, should not divide us or justify alliances that
do not exist.
If a large part of the Muslim world does not recognize the state
of Kosovo, does not respect our historical sacrifice, and even
builds alliances with Serbia—then there is no reason for us to
remain prisoners of this religious identity in international
politics.
We owe no one our Muslimness in exchange for support.
Friendship is not chosen by religion, but by shared values,
history, and mutual interest. And unfortunately, the Arab world
has never treated us as brothers, despite our efforts to be
“good Muslims.”
Time for National Reassessment
We are Albanians. And if we want to survive and progress as a
nation, we must align ourselves where we are valued—not
where we are used. This doesn’t mean scorning religion—on
the contrary, it should be preserved as a spiritual value—but it
must not guide our geopolitical decisions.
Albanians can be Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox, or atheist—but
above all, they must be Albanian.
In a world where states act based on interest, not religious
sentiment, we cannot expect from the Arab world what only
the West has truly given us: freedom, recognition, unwavering
support.
It is time, then, for deep reflection: Will we keep waiting for
brothers who do not want us, or will we stand with dignity
beside the friends who have helped us without conditions?
Should We Stop the Uncontrolled Construction of Mosques in
Albania?
Is this part of Belgrade’s plan to portray Albanians as an
“Islamic country”?
"Albania is not a land of religion, but of the nation." — Father
Gjergj Fishta
"If we tear ourselves apart over religion, Albania is lost!" — Faik
Konica
Muslim on Paper, but Not in Sentiment
Many Albanians—including political leaders, believers, and
ordinary citizens—have grown up with the belief that we are
part of the “Islamic Ummah,” a large brotherly community. But
reality has shown the opposite.
Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, and many others continuously avoid Kosovo,
exclude it from their international policies, and sometimes even
cooperate with Serbia, including on military matters.
Saudi Arabia—the country that holds Islam’s two holiest
sites—has not recognized Kosovo. Meanwhile, it has invested
millions in building mosques in Kosovo, Albania, and North
Macedonia, but has not uttered a word about the Albanians’
right to statehood.
How can this be explained? Or rather—does it still make sense
to believe in this "religious brotherhood" when the reality is so
cold and unjust?
Serbia: The Arab World’s New Partner
Serbia—despite its dark history of repression, genocide, and
racism—has cynically managed to forge alliances with many
Arab and Islamic countries. It has sold weapons to the United
Arab Emirates, cooperated with Egypt, and signed strategic
agree ..with Algeria and has conducted successful diplomatic
missions across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Albania and Kosovo have remained in the position
of the supplicant, waiting for recognition that never comes. And
the question is:
Will we continue to wait endlessly for those who have turned
their backs on us in every crucial moment?
Should we be Muslims for their sake, or Albanians for our own?
This is not a call to deny religion. No. This is a call for national
awareness.
Albanians, divided by religion but united by language, blood,
and history, must no longer politically identify through
religion—especially when religion offers no real support.
If the Muslim world does not recognize Kosovo, if it remains
silent in the face of Serbian genocide, if it embraces Serbia for
political interests—then why should we carry historical
complexes about our European and Albanian identity?
Why deny our Illyrian roots? Why deny our Arbëresh heritage?
Why remain silent about our language, culture, and the
Albanian contribution to Western civilization?
Our True Friends Are Not Defined by Religion
If we follow the cold logic of national interest, one thing is
clear:
The true friends of Albanians have always been and remain the
democratic West.
The USA is the country that liberated Kosovo—not Saudi
Arabia.
Germany is the country that welcomed millions of Albanians
fleeing war—not Pakistan.
Italy is the country that helped rebuild Kosovo—not Algeria.
France, the UK, Japan, Croatia, Turkey—are countries that have
shown support in practice.
Not through words, not through sermons, but through concrete
actions.
Is It Time for a New Albanian National Doctrine?
Albania and Kosovo must build a clear national doctrine:
– National interest above religious interest.
– Strategic alliance with the West, not empty expectations from
a world that does not care for us.
– National consciousness as the only path to dignity.
The future of Albanians does not lie in religious rhetoric, but in
quality education, a modern economy, intelligent diplomacy,
and in embracing the values of the civilization that has stood by
us in every battle—Europe and the USA.
Let’s Wake Up from the Illusion
We have no reason to abandon our personal faith—but we also
have no obligation to build our national identity and politics
upon a brotherhood that simply does not exist.
The Arab world has made it clear: it is not a friend of Albanians.
If it does not recognize Kosovo, it does not recognize our
sacrifice.
If it embraces Serbia, it embraces the crimes committed against
us.
So let us be Muslims, Christians, atheists—as our soul feels
fit—but above all and before all: Albanians.
Albania at a Crossroads: Ancient European Nation or “Islamic
Country”?
In recent years, the number of new mosques across Albanian
territories has significantly increased—many of them built
without any real community need, often in neighborhoods
where even the population hasn’t requested one.
These constructions are not spontaneous. The majority are
funded from abroad, mainly by Arab foundations, Turkish
institutions, and Middle Eastern states, often without any
national, urban, cultural, or geostrategic oversight.
While in Europe religious constructions are being restricted, in
Albania there are neighborhoods that lack schools or
community centers, but have 2–3 new mosques.
This is not a matter of religion, but a matter of national politics.
Is This a Deliberate Project to Distance Albanians from the
West?
Serbia, Russia, and several Eastern centers have never stopped
portraying Albanians as a “Muslim Balkan people” to detach
them from their Western and European identity.
Serbia constantly promotes the narrative on the international
stage that:
– Albania and Kosovo are Muslim countries,
– They are influenced by Islamic radicalism,
– They are a threat to European security,
– They should be blocked from integration into the EU and
NATO.
Meanwhile, we Albanians are the most pro-American and pro-
European nation in the region.
We have the most secular state in the Balkans.
We are the only country in the region where different religions
have coexisted peacefully, without bloodshed.
And we are a nation born from the thought of the Renaissance
intellectuals, not from religious preaching.
Religion Is Not the Problem. Uncontrolled Construction Is.
No one says we should ban religious belief.
No one attacks the Muslim faith.
But when mosques are built without criteria, outside of any
urban planning, and without any social necessity, we are not
dealing with religion—but with the political infiltration of a
foreign agenda.
These constructions are often accompanied by foreign
literature, preachers brought from abroad, with a language and
culture not Albanian, preaching not only religion, but also
isolation from the West, separation from the nation, and
contempt for national values.
If this does not stop, we risk ending up with an imported
identity—one that has nothing to do with the Albanians of Ali
Pasha Tepelena, Skanderbeg, Mother Teresa, or Ismail Qemali.
Should the Construction of Mosques Without Permits and
Without Need Be Stopped? YES. And This Is Not
Islamophobia—It Is Patriotism.
The unregulated construction of mosques is not a demand of
the Albanian people. It is the product of foreign influence
aiming to change our European identity and to create the false
perception that Albanians are part of the East.
In reality, Albanians are the most Western-oriented Muslim-
majority people in the world.
Therefore, every religious construction that is not based on law,
real community need, and financial transparency must be
stopped.
There is no shame in this. There is only dignity.
The Solution: National Oversight, Transparency, and Equality
– Every religious construction must be approved by local and
national authorities based on clear urban and community
criteria.
– There must be full balance between religious buildings of all
faiths.
– Foreign funding must be transparent and strictly monitored.
– Religious clerics who have no connection to the Albanian
language, history, or tradition should not be allowed to carry
out public activities.
Let Us Preserve Religion, But Prioritize the Nation
Albanians should not feel guilty for being Muslim, but neither
should they fall prey to an agenda that seeks to turn them into
a “small Pakistan in the heart of the Balkans.”
Religion is private. The nation is collective.
So while mosques are for prayer, Albania is for Albanianhood.
Albania: Between Nation-Building and Foreign Influence
For years, across all Albanian lands—from Tirana to small towns
and the most remote villages—the number of mosques built
without oversight has increased significantly. Many of them are
financed by unknown foreign sources, lack urban planning
approval, and are often built without any real community need.
Meanwhile, entire areas are without schools, cultural centers,
or hospitals, but have modern mosques with domes, tall
minarets, and architecture foreign to our religious tradition.
This is not a matter of religion—it is a political, geostrategic,
and national issue.
Fact One: Unregulated Religious Construction Is a Threat to the
Secular State
According to data from the Muslim Community of Albania
(KMSH), there are over 700 mosques in the country, many built
after 1991 with foreign funding, primarily from Turkey, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and other Middle Eastern foundations.
But unlike in European democracies, in Albania these
constructions are not accompanied by financial transparency,
national oversight, or respect for urban planning.
In many cases, mosques have been built next to existing ones,
in low-population areas, even without community request.
These buildings do not represent traditional Albanian Islam, but
rather an imported religious model, accompanied by ideologies,
cultures, and languages foreign to our national heritage.
Fact Two: Serbia and Russia Spread the Narrative That
Albanians Are an “Islamic Country”
These developments support the propaganda of Belgrade and
Moscow, which seek to portray Albanians as an Islamic threat
in the heart of Europe, to hinder our integration into the EU
and NATO.
At every international forum, Serbia presents the map of
Albania and Kosovo as Muslim-majority territories, implying a
dangerous closeness to the East—contrasting them with our
Orthodox or Catholic neighbors.
In truth, Albanians have been on the front lines in the fight
against radicalism:
– We were the first country in the region to condemn ISIS and
arrest its recruiters.
– We are among the most secular nations in the Balkans.
– And we were one of the only nations where, during
dictatorship, all religions were banned equally, without
exception.
Therefore, our identity is not religious—but national and
Western.
Fact Three: Religious Construction Without Criteria Is Political
Manipulation
When mosque construction (or any religious building) exceeds
social necessity, it becomes an ideological intervention.
This is happening not only in Albania, but also in Kosovo, North
Macedonia, the Presevo Valley, and to a lesser extent in
Montenegro.
Who benefits from this? Who wants to change the public image
of Albanians in the eyes of the world?
Precisely those who oppose our European integration.
Those who do not want a nation with a clearly Western and
democratic identity.
Those who seek to create new divisions, religious
fragmentation, tensions, and distrust between us and our
Western allies.
The Solution: Oversight, Transparency, Equality, and a National
Vision
Every religious construction must go through approval from
local and national authorities, based on the real needs of the
community.
Foreign funding must be 100% transparent and subject to
regular audits.
Of Europe — to block our integration into the EU and NATO
At every international forum, Serbia presents the map of
Albania and Kosovo as “Muslim-majority territories,” implying a
dangerous closeness to the East, in contrast to our Orthodox or
Catholic neighbors.
Therefore, our identity is not religious, but national and
Western.
Fact Three: The Unregulated Construction of Religious Buildings
Is Political Manipulation
When the construction of mosques (or any other religious
building) exceeds the actual social need, it becomes an
ideological intervention.
This doesn’t happen only in Albania—it also occurs in Kosovo,
North Macedonia, the Presevo Valley, and to a lesser degree in
Montenegro.
Who benefits from this? Who wants to change the public image
of Albanians in the eyes of the world?
Precisely those who oppose our European integration. Those
who do not want a nation with a clear Western and democratic
identity. Those who seek to create new divisions, religious
fragmentation, tensions, and mistrust between us and our
Western allies.
Foreign Preachers Who Do Not Know the Albanian Language,
Laws, and Culture Should Not Be Allowed to Preach Publicly.
Every practice of construction without urban planning and
without interfaith balance must be stopped.
The teaching of Albanian history, national culture, and secular
values must be strengthened in schools, so that new
generations are not prey to foreign propaganda.
Albania Is a Western Country, Not an Islamic One
We do not deny religion, but neither do we allow religion to be
used as a Trojan horse to change our national identity.
Albanians are Europeans, they are believers without fanaticism,
and above all, they are a united nation, not divided religious
communities.
Therefore, for every foreign intervention that seeks to change
our image—the answer is clear:
WE HAVE CHOSEN OUR FRIENDS: THE USA AND THE EUROPEAN
UNION.
WE ARE NOT AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY. WE ARE THE MOST PRO-
WESTERN NATION IN THE BALKANS.
And this choice will not be changed—not by another minaret,
nor by any attempt to distance us from our historical,
European, free, and Albanian identity.
CONCLUSION
Albanians are an ancient nation, with European roots and a
deep tradition of religious coexistence, but above all, with an
unshakable national identity.
The unregulated construction of religious buildings—especially
mosques funded from abroad—is no longer just a matter of
faith.
It is a challenge to our cultural sovereignty, our European
heritage, and our strategic orientation.
Serbia, Russia, and their allies have for years tried to portray
Albania and Kosovo as Islamic countries in the heart of the
Balkans, in order to separate them from the West.
We must not naively assist them.
Uncontrolled, unnecessary, and non-transparent constructions
are soft-power weapons of foreign influence aiming to deform
our identity through appearance, not substance.
We do not deny religion—but we do not accept it as a fog that
clouds our national horizon.
Albania and Albanians are not and will not become an “Islamic
country.”
We have made our choice:
The USA is our strategic ally.
The European Union is our natural home.
Albanianhood is our shared faith.
At a time when history demands clarity, we must stand as one
nation, not be scattered into religious communities influenced
from outside.
Because the nation endures, while propaganda fades.
Albania is European — with roots in Illyria, hope in the EU, and
eternal friendship with America.
