Edmond Brahimaj

H. Dede Baba Edmond Brahimaj, World Leader of the Bektashis and Chairman of the Interreligious Council of Albania during 2021.
Edmond Brahimaj was born in Tirana on May 19, 1959, to a devoted Bektashi family from Brataj, Vlore. Upon completion of secondary education, he continued his studies at high school “Scanderbeg” and achieved high results, which granted him the right to pursue undergraduate studies at the Academy of Land Forces, today “Scanderbeg”.

With the revival of religions in the 1990s, along with clergy and other Bektashi believers, he participated in the Organizing Council of the Bektashi World Headquarters.
On May 16, 1996, he was ordained “Dervish” and was immediately appointed to the Bektashi Tekke of Turan, in Korça. On April 13, 1997, he was ordained “Baba” and was appointed first deputy by Haji Dede Reshat Bardhi.
In March 2006, he was appointed grandfather of the Bektashi Tekke in Macedonia. Following the death of H. Dede Reshat Bardhi, former leader of Bektashi Community, H. Baba Edmond Brahimaj was appointed leader of the Bektashi Community in June 2011. 

During these years, H. Dede Edmond Brahimaj has worked dedicatedly, following the path of Dede Reshat Bardhi and the Bektashi tradition both at home and abroad. H. Dede Edmond Brahimaj has received honorary titles: 

“Ambassador of Peace”, 2004;
“Honour of Korça Region”, 2004;
“Honorary Citizen” of the Municipality of Zerqan-Bulqizë, June 10, 2014;
“Honorary Citizen” of the Municipality of Martanesh-Bulqizë, June 29, 2014;
“Honorary Citizen” of Municipality Bogovë-Skrapar, August 22, 2014;
“Honorary Citizen” of the Municipality of Frashër, Përmet, May 25, 2014;
“Prominent Personality of Labëria” awarded by “Labëria” association in June 2015;
“Honorary Citizen” of Fier region, March 2015;
“Honorary Citizen” of Berat region, May 2015;
“Knight of the Order of Scanderbeg”, September 7, 2015, awarded by the President of the Republic of Albania;
“Dr. Honorus Causa” UN Mission, September 2016;
“Honorary Citizen” of the commune of Bulqiza”, October 2016;
“Gratitude” by the US President Obama, January 2017;
Gold Awards “Peace Icon” United Nations; “G.O.D Awards” October 2017;
“Honorary Citizen” of Skrapar, January 2018. On June 26, 2019 the US Congress of the Jews, honoured H. Dede Edmond Brahimaj and the Bektashi Community with the American Flag.