Ali Tomorri | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1900 or 1893 |
| Died | 14 January 1948 |
| Nationality |  Albanian |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Order | Bektashi Order |
| Part ofa series on Bektashism |
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Historical figures |
BabaAli Tomorri (1900–1948; also known asAli Tyrabiu,Ali Turabiu,Ali Baba of Tomorr,Baba Ali of Tomorr, andVarf Ali Prishta) was an AlbanianBektashi religious leader.[1]
Ali Tomorri was bornAli Abaz Skëndi in either 1900 or 1893 inShalës nearTepelena. He completed his schooling inBerat, and then studied inKozani, which is currently in Greece.[1]
He returned to Albania in 1913 and was initiated as amuhib (Sufi disciple) at the tekke ofPrishta by Baba Shaban, later becoming adervish at the same tekke. At the tekke of Prishta, he became known asVarf Ali Prishta, with the titleVarf literally meaning ‘poor dervish’ (related to the Albanian wordi varfër ‘poor’).[1]
In 1922, Baba Ahmet Turani appointed him as a baba and assigned him to lead the tekke ofKulmak onMount Tomorr. From then on, he became known by the name Baba Ali Tomorri.[1]
During the1920s, Ali Tomorri organized the first fewWorld Bektashi Congresses, including the 1st,[2] 2nd,[3] and 3rd[4] Congresses.
Ali Tomorri fought duringWorld War II. In 1946, he was sent to theAsim Baba Tekke inGjirokastra by the Communist government, where he replaced BabaSelim Gjirokastra (died 1944). However, in 1947, he was accused of espionage and working with the British, for which he was executed on 14 January 1948.[1]
Ali Tomorri wrote 6 books and various articles, and also composed original Albanian poetry. Unlike his predecessors, he wrote in Latin instead of Arabic script.[1]