BY SAIMIR LOLJA/
An European architecture causes European feelings and the actual design of the Grand Moslem Shrine in Tirana, in proximity to the Albanian Parliament, does not follow the European direction. To be part of European civilization does not stand for an entrance into European Union by passport check only, in particular for politicians only who have already years that have “entered” the European Union. Those who have been voted to be representatives and governors of Albanians exert their civil responsibilities to serve the Albanian advancement and unification through their decisions, including for spiritual shrines.
The expected design of the Grand Moslem Shrine in Tirana, a gift from the past government, would convert Tirana into a petite Istanbul because it the scenery in Istanbul or in Arabic towns and in Tirana will be the same. Which means that enthusiastically Turkey will invest such a structure of the shrine.
Solution for the architecture of the Grand Moslem Shrine in Tirana is a design similar to the Moslem Shrine inaugurated in Rijeka of Croatia in 2013.
Every time Albanians and non-Albanians see a Moslem Shrine in Tirana designed according to European architecture, Albanians will percept themselves and non-Albanians will percept Albanians as part of the Southeast Europe, part of Europe, not part of the Ottoman Balkan, not an Anatolian extension, not bearers of Arabic way of living and thinking that do not merit European civilization and care. Whenever a grand mosque in the capital Tirana is seen of heard of as designed with Anatolian or Arabic style, Albania will be perceived as Albanistan, beyond the fence of the European Union and civilization, as a country that does not bear European rights and obligations, and as a population that avoids the European enlightenment.
The tradition of Moslem faith in Albania has its own features and has the national purpose above all. These typical and national messages require expression and inclusion in the designed architecture of the prospective Grand Moslem Shrine in Tirana.
The religious shrines are spiritual centers where an individual can voluntarily find peace, respect, harmony and relief. The expected design of the Grand Moslem Shrine in Tirana does not reflect the European Albanian model for the future. The Albanian progress and unification cannot be achieved by Greece sponsoring the construction of the Orthodox Cathedral and by Ottoman Turkey sponsoring the Grand Mosque in Tirana.
What Ottomans did achieve by the force of arms, it appears that they are retrying to get by the means of emotional ideas. This highlights the saying by Victor Hugo (1802-1885): “One [population] can resist the invasion of an army but one [population] cannot resist the invasion of ideas”.(Photo:Rieke-Kroaci,2013