Arabati Baba Teḱe

(Redirected from Arabati Baba Tekke)

The Arabati Baba Tekḱe (Macedonian: Арабати баба-теќе, Albanian: Teqeja e Baba Harabatit, Turkish: Harabati Baba Tekkesi) is an Ottoman takya located in Tetovo, North Macedonia. The tekke was originally built in 1538 around the türbe of Sersem Ali Baba [sq], an Ottoman dervish.[1] In 1799, a waqf provided by Recep Paşa established the current grounds of the tekke.[2]

Arabati Baba Tekke
Religion
AffiliationBektashi
OwnershipBektashi Community of Macedonia
LeadershipBektashi Community of Macedonia
Location
LocationTetovo, North Macedonia
MunicipalityTetovo
Geographic coordinates42°00′15″N 20°57′27″E / 42.004109°N 20.957567°E / 42.004109; 20.957567
Architecture
Architect(s)Harabati Baba
TypeTekke
StyleOttoman architecture
FounderSersem Ali Dede Baba
Completed1538; 486 years ago (1538)
MaterialsStones & Kalkan

Due to its striking architecture, the Arabati Baba Tekke has become an iconic symbol of Tetovo, and is featured on its municipal coat of arms.

History

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Harabati Baba Tekkesi, Tetovo.

Arabati Baba controversy

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In 2002, a group of armed members of the Salafist, Islamic Community of Macedonia (ICM), the legally recognized organization which claims to represent all Muslims in Macedonia, invaded the Arabati Baba Tekke in an attempt to reclaim the tekke as a mosque, although the facility has never functioned as such. Subsequently, the Bektashi community of Macedonia has sued the Macedonian government for failing to restore the tekke to the Bektashi community, pursuant to a law passed in the early 1990s returning property previously nationalised under the Yugoslav government. The law, however, deals with restitution to private citizens, rather than religious communities.[3] The ICM claim to the tekke is based upon their contention to represent all Muslims in Macedonia; and indeed, they are one of two Muslim organizations recognized by the government, both Sunni. The (Shi'i) Bektashi community filed for recognition as a separate religious community with the Macedonian government in 1993, but the Macedonian government has refused to recognize them.[3]

In March 2008, there were reports that the ICM members squatting on the facility grounds have taken control of additional buildings, have been intimidating visitors to the tekke, and have discharged their weapons on the grounds.[4]

Images

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Macedonian Tendency: Bulgarians About Travel in Tetovo, Macedonia
  2. ^ "CEEOL - Error".
  3. ^ a b Muslims in Macedoniagreekhelsinki.gr Archived 2015-11-06 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "WahhabiWatch". Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
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