Malik Merchant, Editor

Highest point of the celebrations of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Diamond Jubilee will be in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 11, 2018

Prepared and compiled by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
(Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)

“A happy coincidence, reinforced by the fact that this presentation takes place during the celebrations of the Jubilee of His Highness, which will have its highest point, on 11 July [2018] next in Lisbon, the city where we have our headquarters, under the agreement signed in this House in 2015.” — Nazim Ahmad, February 22, 2018

Seat of Ismaili Imamat representation
During His Highness the Aga Khan’s two day visit to Portugal on 11-12 May 2016, his first since the agreement establishing the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat came into force in November 2015, the Aga Khan introduced the first five Senior Officials of the Imamat, to Portugal’s President. Left to Right: Dr Shafik Sachedina, Head of Community Affairs, Jane Piacentini- Moore, Head of the Department for International Financial Affairs, Ambassador Arif Lalani, Head of the Department of Diplomatic Affairs, His Highness the Aga Khan, His Excellency President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Nazim Ahmad, Head of the Department of Portugal and other Lusophone Countries and Maitre Laurent Chambaz, Head of the Department for International Legal Affairs. Photo: AKDN/Luis Filipe Catarino.

Mr. Nazim Ahmad, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) representative in Portugal and one of five senior Imamat officials introduced by His Highness the Aga Khan to Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousain in May 2016 (see photo above), made a presentation at Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the agreement that came into force in November 2015 establishing the The Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal. The text of his remarks made in Portuguese are reproduced below, followed by a link to the PDF version of the official English translation — ed.

Apresentação sobre O Imamat Ismaili, Os Acordos Com Portugal E A AKDN Lisboa

(22 de fevereiro de 2018, Biblioteca da Rainha – MNE)

Notas Introdutórias do representante do Imamat Ismaili, comendador Nazim Ahmad

“Uma feliz coincidência, reforçada pelo facto desta apresentação ter lugar no decurso das celebrações do Jubileu de Sua Alteza, que terá o seu ponto mais alto, a 11 de Julho próximo em Lisboa, cidade aonde temos a nossa Sede, por força do Acordo assinado nesta Casa em 2015.” — Nazim Ahmad

Diplomatic Institute Imamate Ismaili
Nazim Ahmad, seated at far-left, during the presentation of the Ismaili Imamat Agreement with Portugal. Photo: Council of Europe, North-South Centre.

Senhor Secretário de Estado das Comunidades Portuguesas,
Dr. José Luis Carneiro

Senhor Presidente do Instituto Diplomático, Embaixador
Freitas Ferraz

Senhores Embaixadores,

Minhas Senhoras e meus Senhores,

Umas breves palavras, em primeiro lugar para agradecer ao Senhor Embaixador Freitas Ferraz, ilustre Presidente do Instituto Diplomático, a sua colaboração, e a do Instituto, na
organização desta apresentação. Espero que dê a conhecer melhor, o que é o Imamat Ismaili e quais as suas atividades, especialmente a da Rede Aga Khan para o Desenvolvimento.
 
Em segundo lugar, aproveitaria a oportunidade para, na pessoa do Senhor Secretário de Estado, Dr. José Luis Carneiro – cuja presença agradeço, expressar o apreço do Imamat Ismaili pelo empenho que o Governo Português tem manifestado no desenvolvimento das relações entre ambas as Partes. Sentimento esse que temos encontrado também, quer noutras altas instâncias da República Portuguesa, quer na Administração, e que se têm vindo a traduzir na celebração de vários acordos bilaterais e em acções de cooperação.

Queria agradecer a todos os presentes nesta sessão, o terem querido estar hoje connosco neste evento, que se enquadra na letra e no espírito do Protocolo de Cooperação Internacional assinado em 2008. Mais precisamente, e por feliz coincidência, a 11 de Julho, data muito significativa para a Comunidade Ismaili, uma vez que foi a 11 de Julho de 1957, que Sua Alteza o Aga Khan assumiu a sua missão de líder espiritual da Comunidade Ismaili.
 
Uma feliz coincidência, reforçada pelo facto desta apresentação ter lugar no decurso das celebrações do Jubileu de Sua Alteza, que terá o seu ponto mais alto, a 11 de Julho próximo em Lisboa, cidade aonde temos a nossa Sede, por força do Acordo assinado nesta Casa em 2015.

O MNE é, como não podia deixar de ser, o nosso interlocutor privilegiado. Por isso, no momento em que estamos a concluir a fase de instalação da Sede do Imamat Ismaili – tarefa inédita, pois em 1.400 anos de História esta é a primeira vez que o Imamat tem uma Sede física nos moldes atuais, encontrando apenas paralelo no período Fatimida – pensámos que seria útil, proporcionar uma informação estruturada acerca das nossas instituições, da nossa História e do contexto da nossa relação, bem como do potencial da mesma em Portugal e no estrangeiro, agora e no futuro.

É uma grande honra e um grande prazer – e também uma grande responsabilidade – fazê-lo hoje aqui neste Ministério e perante os membros duma carreira conhecida pela sua grande preparação, alto nível de exigência e de rigor.
 
Assim reitero os nossos agradecimentos pela vossa presença, nesta iniciativa organizada conjuntamente com o Instituto Diplomático, numa colaboração que estou certo continuará no futuro

Obrigado.

Date posted: February 27, 2018.
Last updated: February 27, 2018, 11:51 AM EST (typo).

_________________

Note: For official English version of the text of the media release published above, please click Notas introdutórias NA Final IDI 22.02.2018_EN. It does contain numerous translation errors. To see the complete news release at source, please click Relations between Portugal, AKDN and the North-South Centre.

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This website, Barakah, is a special project by http://www.Simerg.com and is dedicated to the textual and visual celebration of His Highness the Aga Khan as he marks his Diamond Jubilee or 60 years as Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.

33 comments

    • Like you, we are all waiting for the registration to commence. We will of course make the announcement on this blog when the official information on the mechanism for registration is posted on theismaili.org or announced in Jamatkhanas around the world. For your information Simerg and Barakah have launched a new blog dedicated to Lisbon. Please visit http://www.allthingslisboa.wordpress.com – over the next several weeks we will provide some great exclusive information about Lisbon and Portugal as well as keep readers informed about all the events that are planned for the Diamond Jubilee.

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  4. The LIF has declared 5th to 11th July 2018 as the dates when the celebrations will be taking place! The location of the Darbar and the cultural events that will be taking place would be appreciated as many of us would wish to book hotels that are in the vicinity.

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    • A visit to Lisbon is now high on my priority list. Amazing to be living at a time when the Seat of Imamat will be established in Portugal.

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  7. Shukhar. All of us are so fortunate to be alive in this era and witness the Diamond Jubilee of our beloved Hazir Imam Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini swt. We have had guidance how to live our lives ethically, peacefully and sharing our time and knowledge with everyone and to be a better human being no matter where we live. Our Jamat has made their own countries proud and they have been a contributing factor to their own countries only because of Hazar Imam’s continuous guidance and teachings. I know personally I would have been nothing without his guidance and blessings. I owe it all to him and I am grateful to him. I know I am not alone and many if not all of you who feel the same way I do. We are all one Jamat because of Mawla’s love, guidance, prayers and blessings. Once again I say Shukhar Al Hamd Dullilah. We love our Imam.

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  8. Mumbaraki to all! The Jamats should be notified in advance if its open to all or restricted. I have heard many people stating that they have booked their flights and accommodation.

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    • I have heard that Jamats where Imam will not be visiting for the Diamond Jubiliee Deedar / Darbar will be permitted to attend Lisbon Mulaqat. Can someone please confirm this and provide guidance on where to stay in Lisbon and any indication on dates.

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      • We all await with eagerness and interest about the specifics of the mulaqats/Darbar in Lisbon. Hope that the Darbar is open to the world-wide Jamat without any distinction whatsoever, considering the historical importance of the inauguration of the Seat of Imamat – if that indeed happens on or around July 11, 2018. Lisbon is a very popular tourist city with plenty of accommodation. Of course we live at a time when plenty of additional accommodation can be found via Airbnb! I would recommend that we wait for official announcements. In any case, Lisbon is a wonderful city to visit, and I would suggest going to Algarve for a few days as part of your trip. Priceline.com and hotwire.com are some of the great hotel booking websites that I have found to be very reliable over the past several years! Please visit them and others like trivago.ca, hotels.com and booking.com. All the best.

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  9. Thousands mumbarakhis my Mowla for your Diamond jubilee and for your guidance and blessings. Please come quickly in France!

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  11. Mashallah! Historic moment in our lives and umma at large !! We are truly blessed to celebrate this Daimond Jubilee. Shukhar mowla for bestowing us with your Zaheri Deedar and blessings!!!!

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  12. It’s a glorious day in the history of our Imams and Ismailies. I learnt through history that groups of Imams stayed in particular places for an era and then moved. This is called change in Tabakka. Example started with Arbastan, then Syria, then Cairo, Almout (Iran), Indo-Pak, France. Now moving to Portugal. It’s the grace and blessings of Imams that different lands and people are chosen to carry out the Imams’ Mission. We thank the Imams for their graciousness and guidance. Shukhar. I pray we are always under the Imams’ Umbrella. Ameen. 11 July 2018 wi;; be a memorable and cherishable day in our lives, Inshallah.
    Amynah Sabr, Tanu and Sadiq Bhaidani.

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  16. Mowla we Ismailis and the whole world are blessed with your rahemat and bounties in every breath we take and wish you Mowla our thousand fold mubaraki for your glorious Diamond Jubilee. Shukran li laa Walhamdulilaah.

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  17. Truely this would be the the highest moment in the Diamond 💎 Jubilee. We are all so proud and blessed. Shukranillah wal Hamdulillah. The Jamat in Lisbon is so fortunate to be able to witness the highlight of Imamat. Mubaraki to all.
    Yasmin Virji
    San Jose, California.

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  19. It will be a great pleasure to have the celebration of highest point of DIAMOND JUBILEE in LISBON. We hope the Indian Jamat along with others Jamats around the world will be allowed to participate during the glorious historical event.

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  27. Yes, July 11, 2018 will be the highest point of celebration of Diamond Jubilee of Mowlana Hazir Imam in Lisbon, Portugal. Barakah has been covering the Diamond Jubilee celebration in various countries of the world where Ismaili community lives in a most befitting manner and deserves
    HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS.

    DIAMOND JUBILEE has created a lot of enthusiasm, unity and cooperation in the Ismaili community. The wisdom of Mowlana Hazar Imam in which Diamond Jubilee has been celebrated will help a lot for constant and continued progress of Ismailis all over the world in both worldly and spiritual affairs.

    Ismailis are certainly happy, fortunate and proud of their present Imam who guides them in all matters to live BALANCED LIFE.

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    • Mashallah! What a glorious historic moment of time to be living. Shukharen shukaren. Mawla’s blessings and barakat to everyone. Please pray for those living in country’s of terror and hardship. Ameen

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