In contrast with other Balkan nations, Albanians were a society with multiple religions, and one in which religion did not play a significant role in group identification. The process of Islamisation, which was particularly intensive from the 17th Century meant that the majority of inhabitants on Albanian soil recognised Islam. The Sunni Muslims were the largest group, but the Bektashi community, with almost 20% of Albanian followers of Islam, also played an important role (it was active mainly in the central and southern parts of the country). In the south and south-eastern part of the country, the Orthodox Church had considerable influence, while in the north and north-western parts, Catholicism was influential. Documents of a constitutional character, passed in the inter-war years, uniformly stated that in Albania there was no state religion. In the most important state bodies, the principle of religious equality applied.