Reports on this page compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT
[We continue our news coverage of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and members of his family with a fresh page for 2023. We invite our readers to click HERE for coverage of stories between July 13, 2021 and December 31, 2022 where “anchor links” have been provided so that readers can zero in on specific items they wish to read. Anchor links are also being inserted on this 2023 page for direct access to specific news stories. And for 2024 stories click HERE — Ed.]
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ANCHOR LINKS TO NEWS COVERAGE FROM JANUARY 1, 2023 (CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE)
- January 9, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Princess Zahra lead Ismaili Imamat and AKDN delegation to “Climate Resilient Pakistan” conference in Geneva
- January 20, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan attends reception in honour of Dr. Farhad Daftary
- February 13, 2023: Prince Rahim addresses World Government Summit in Dubai
- February 16-21, 2023: Prince Hussain’s Living Sea artwork at Palm Beach Show
- February 24, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and son Prince Sinan at Lisbon’s Royal Treasure Museum as Ismaili Imamat provides patronage support for acquisition of an exceptional artefact
- March 13, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Commonwealth Day Service
- March 18. 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan attends AKU 40th anniversary
- April 25, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan opens polyclinic in Zanzibar
- April 27, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan launches construction of AKU campus in Kampala
- May 6, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan attends coronation of King Charles III
- May 21, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan hosts UAE’s Minister of Culture and Youth
- June 6, 2023: Prince Amyn Aga Khan attends opening ceremony of the “Schools2030 Global Forum” in Porto and signs AKFP Agreement with City
- June 14, 2023: Prince Rahim meets Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
- June 15, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan meets Kyrgyz Foreign Minister
- June 15, 2023: Princess Zahra in Naryn – meets students and UCA Board of Trustees
- June 16, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan shares Mawlana Hazar Imam’s message at UCA Convocation
- June 21, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan attends ceremony honouring Aga Khan Ismaili Council President Shamir Samdjee
- July 11, 2023: Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad Welcome the Portuguese Leadership to celebrate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 66th Imamat Day
- July 12, 2023: King Charles receives Prince Rahim Aga Khan
- July 13, 2023: Prince Amyn, Rahim and Aly Muhammad at 25th anniversary of Ismaili Centre Lisbon
- July 27, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Welcomes Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism to the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat
- August 4, 2023: Pope Francis Meets Prince Rahim Aga Khan
- October 12, 2023: The Prince of Wales Receives Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Windsor Castle
- October 18, 2023: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Attends Aga Khan Master Musicians Performance in Paris
- October 23, 2023: Prince Amyn Aga Khan at Ismaili Center Houston for Topping Out Ceremony
- October 30, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at University of Muchigan for Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
- November 10, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Attends Paris Peace Forum
- November 14, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends 2023 Pluralism Award Ceremony
- December 8, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Attends COP28
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December 8, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and AKDN leaders attend COP28
At a High-Level Ministerial Dialogue for Culture-Based Climate Action, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Chairman of AKDN’s Climate and Environment Committee, collaborated with global leaders to explore strategies for integrating culture into the heart of climate action. The dialogue was hosted by His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, the UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, and His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, President of COP 28 and the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change.
Prince Rahim also met with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs; Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister for International Cooperation; Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain’s Authority for Culture and Antiquities.
At the conference, AKDN agencies are seeking to bring attention to the plight of vulnerable communities at the forefront of the climate crisis, and to mobilise resources to help them adapt to our changing world. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) helped launch three new initiatives at the summit. The Global Education Solutions Accelerator, in partnership with Dubai Cares, aims to fast track education transformation across 10 countries by working with a network of development and educational partners to make climate change an integral part of curricula.
The Aga Khan Health Services and the Aga Khan University hosted an event at the WHO Health Pavilion to explore how to reduce the health sector’s carbon emissions, while HBL joined an innovative alliance to support developing countries’ transition to green economies. The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat is convening discussions to help improve the understanding and management of long-term climate risks in the mountains of Central and South Asia.
One of the 197 countries represented at COP this year is Portugal, who for the first time has its own pavilion at the conference. Portugal hosted an event entitled “Portuguese Foundations: Front Runners in the Climate Transition,” at which Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, joined Mr Duarte Cordeiro, Minister of Environment and Climate Action, and other representatives from AKDN to discuss Portugal’s efforts to combat climate change.
The presence of Prince Rahim along with leaders of the AKDN underscores the Ismaili Imamat’s commitment to protecting the environment and fostering sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.
External links — click on the following link(s) for more coverage and photographs of AKDN’s participation at COP28:
- The Ismaili: Prince Rahim and AKDN Leaders Attend COP28
- AKDN: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Joins World Leaders at COP28
- AKDN: Background article — AKDN at COP28
Also, related to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s family, see the following independent post:
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November 14, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Attends the 4th Pluralism Award Ceremony in Ottawa
The 2023 Global Pluralism Award Ceremony took place on November 14, 2023 in Ottawa, Canada, at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building located on Sussex Drive, the National Capital’s ceremonial road. Meredith Preston McGhie, Secretary General of the Global Centre for Pluralism, and Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Board Member of the Centre, along with the Pluralism Award winners delivered insightful remarks at the ceremony. The Centre’s Award Ceremony Page includes an edited version of the live event that was broadcast on YouTube. Please VISIT THE PAGE and scroll down to view the presentation ceremony.
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November 10, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan Attends the 2023 Edition of the Paris Peace Forum
The Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili Muslim community, reports that Prince Rahim Aga Khan attended the 2023 edition of the Paris Peace Forum at Palais Brongniart and participated alongside world leaders and change makers to help build a more peaceful world. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has served as a Founding Partner of the Paris Peace Forum since its inception in 2018, and this year became a strategic partner alongside the European Commission, Microsoft, and the Open Society Foundations.
This reflects the Ismaili Imamat’s longstanding and close relationship with the French Republic, founded on the shared values of peace, human development, and pluralism. The Forum’s emphasis on partnership between governments, civil society and the private sector resonate strongly with AKDN’s decades-long approach to development.
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The Forum’s themes this year focused on protecting the planet, ensuring digital safety, addressing inequality, and crafting sustainable peace; which all align with the work of the AKDN and Jamati institutions to help improve the quality of life worldwide.
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Ismaili CIVIC volunteers from the French jurisdiction took part in this year’s event, welcoming guests, coordinating roundtable discussions, accompanying international delegations, and organising ancillary activities.
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October 30, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Welcomed by University of Michigan as its Partnership with Aga Khan University Deeepens to Address Global Health Challenges
The University of Michigan (U-M) welcomed Princess Zahra Aga Khan and representatives from Aga Khan University (AKU) campuses in Pakistan and Kenya on October 30, 2023. Senior leadership from both universities formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)) to expand ongoing collaborative efforts. The MOU was powered by a $900,000 gift from AKU to U-M to expand ongoing collaborative efforts.
The AKU delegation included Princess Zahra Aga Khan; Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President; Carl Amrhein, Provost; Salim Virani, Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies; Zahra Somani, Chief Advancement Officer; Shaukat Ali Khan, Global Chief Innovation Officer; Amina Abubakar, Director of the Institute of Human Development; and Fareena Feroze, Director of Global Engagement.
The visit builds on a collaborative effort to use data science to improve health outcomes in under-resourced settings in sub-Saharan Africa. The collaboration started in 2019 and was formalised with a signed Memorandum of Understanding in 2021. The joint efforts have already yielded significant strides in strengthening health systems, informing health policy, utilising technology to promote health equity and empowering women.
“Partnership is powerful,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan said. “The AKU/U-M Collaborative Platform for Improving Health builds on what is already a highly successful partnership between two institutions with common values and unique strengths. I look forward to seeing our faculty members continue to work together to deliver new tools and insights that can improve health in Africa, Asia and beyond.”
“The visit of Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the distinguished AKU delegation is a testament to the enduring bond between our institutions, founded on shared values and a common vision for a better world,” said U-M President Santa Ono. He added: “This historic celebration is not only an opportunity to honour our past achievements but to set a course for an even brighter future of partnership and collaboration.”
External links: Click on the following link(s) for more coverage and photographs of Princess Zahra’s visit to the University of Michigan (U-M) as well as background news about the collaboration between the U-M and AKU.
- AKDN: University of Michigan welcomes Princess Zahra Aga Khan and AKU delegation
- The Ismaili: University of Michigan welcomes AKU delegation to Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan – Michigan News: U-M welcomes Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Aga Khan University delegation
- The University Record: U-M expands collaboration with Aga Khan University
- Center for Global Health Equity: U-M, CGHE Welcome Princess Zahra Aga Khan and Aga Khan University Delegation
- CGHE and Aga Khan University Partnership to Deepen, Address Global Health Challenges Using Data Science
- CGHE partner Aga Khan University Awarded NIH Funding to Advance Colorectal Cancer Diagnostics in Africa
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October 23, 2023: Prince Amyn Aga Khan Attends Ismaili Center HoustoN’s Topping Out Ceremony, as Mayor Turner presents His Highness the Aga Khan with Key to City
Ismaili Center Houston achieved a significant milestone on October 23, 2023, with a special ‘topping out’ ceremony attended by Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The ‘topping out’ ceremony celebrates the completion of the building’s superstructure and the placement of the final beam, marking a milestone in the construction journey.
To acknowledge his support in the planning and construction of the first Ismaili Center in the US, the event included a luncheon in honor of Mayor Turner, at which elected officials, civil society leaders, and friends and partners of the Ismaili community were present. This is Mayor Turner’s 2nd and final term as Houston’s Mayor. He was first elected into the office in 2016 and re-elected in 2019. During his tenure, the Mayor had welcomed His Highness to Houston on March 18, 2018, in commemoration of his Diamond Jubilee. Also, the new Ismaili Center’s development has occurred in large part during his time as Houston’s Mayor.
In a moment of special recognition, Mayor Turner awarded the key to the city of Houston to Mawlana Hazar Imam, which Prince Amyn accepted on his behalf. Prince Amyn said:
“I would like to begin my comments this afternoon by saying how touched I am by the recognition that you have given to my brother, His Highness the Aga Khan. It is with great happiness that I receive, on his behalf, the Key to this wonderful city. He has previously remarked on this old historical tradition that has existed in many countries in many parts of the world and has said quote: ‘I am going to use these keys to open as many doors as possible. Doors to happiness, doors to peace, doors to unity, doors to human progress’.”
Prince Amyn also expressed appreciation for the warm reception in Houston, highlighting the role of the upcoming Ismaili Center as a hub for cultural exchange, intellectual growth, and community engagement. The Center’s expansive gardens and public spaces will welcome people from all walks of life, beliefs, and backgrounds to engage in enriching programs and meaningful dialogue.
In an onstage conversation with award-winning journalist, Linda Lorelle, Mayor Turner spoke of his time as mayor and his engagement with the Ismaili community.
“As excited as I am about the construction, I am equally excited about the message that it sends and brings. It focuses on tolerance, inclusion, diversity, pluralism, and I can’t think about a better place than right here in the City of Houston,” he said.
To commemorate the occasion, Prince Amyn, Mayor Turner and a small number of guests visited the construction site and signed the final beam that will complete the superstructure of the building. Prince Amyn and Mayor Turner together planted a Texas Red Oak tree, intended to grow and mature alongside the Ismaili Center, symbolizing progress and stability, and offering wishes for peace and prosperity.
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External links: Click on the following link(s) for more coverage and photographs of the ‘toping out’ ceremony in Houston:
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Hazar Imam honored with the Key to the City of Houston
- Houston Chronicle: Ismaili Centre, first cultural landmark of its kind in the U.S., hits construction milestone (may require registration/subscription)
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October 18, 2023: Prince Amyn Aga Khan at Aga Khan Master Musicians Performace in Paris
On October 18, 2023, L’Institut du Monde Arabe hosted the acclaimed Aga Khan Master Musicians in Paris, France, for their latest live performance. Hailing from Syria, Uzbekistan, and Tunisia, the five Aga Khan Master Musicians performed a mesmerising selection of compositions. The collective chords of the duclar, qanoun, and doira mixed with vocals, the violin, and saxophone in a harmonious dialogue, evoked the sights and sounds of the historic Silk Road.
The evening was a poignant reminder of the power of music to transcend boundaries and foster harmony and understanding among diverse communities. Luis Monreal, General Manager of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, welcomed guests and spoke of music’s role as a force that unites people and brings hope in the face of despair.
“We are living in dramatic times,” he said, referring to the violence marking many regions of the world. “We think of the women, men and children caught in this cycle of violence, we think of their suffering and pain for the loss of their loved ones and their desperate efforts to survive.”
“Music is an essential element,” Mr Monreal explained, “in recognising the contribution that different cultures have made to universal civilisation. This pluralism enriches us, bringing us together into a global world that we hope will one day be a world at peace.”
L’Institut du Monde Arabe’s current President Jack Lang, who was France’s former Minister of Culture and founder of the Fête de la Musique, in his reamrks said:
“I salute His Highness the Aga Khan, who does so much around the world to promote creativity and preserve our heritage. It’s always a great privilege for us to attend this concert, which brings together musicians of the very highest calibre.”
“Each musician has mastered his or her instrument to perfection,” he added, “offering us an exceptional soundscape between tradition and modernity.”
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The event was attended by Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan. Guests at the concert included the Cultural Advisor to the President of France, representatives from the diplomatic corps, national and local government authorities, and leaders of French civil society as well as the Ismaili Imamat’s Official Representative to France, Shamir Samdjee; President of the Ismaili Council for France, Aiaze Mitha; and other senior AKDN and Ismaili leaders.
“While the musical worlds of North Africa, the Middle East, Iran, and Central Asia represented in this evening’s concert certainly overlap in significant ways, they are also quite different,” noted Prince Amyn in his remarks at a post-concert reception. “Creating new music in which these different worlds meet harmoniously and without resorting to cliché is an admirable achievement.”
The event coincided with the release of the Aga Khan Master Musicians’ debut album, titled Nowruz, on the prestigious Smithsonian Folkways label.
External links: Click on the following link(s) for more coverage and photographs of the Aga Khan Master Musians event in Paris:
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October 12, 2023: His Royal Highness Prince William receives Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Windsor Castle
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, His Royal Highness Prince William, the Prince of Wales, in his capacity as President of Earthshot Prize, received Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Windsor Castle. The short announcement of the meeting appears in the Court Circular issued by Buckingham Palace. The Court Circular is the official record of past royal engagements, and is also published in The Times of London.
Three years ago, on October 12, 2020, Prince Rahim, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network’s Environment and Climate Committee, had announced an exciting partnership with Prince William to launch the Earthshot Prize to change the global discourse about climate and the environment, from one of pessimism and gloom to one of optimism and hope.
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August 4, 2023: Pope Francis Has Private Audience with Prince Rahim Aga Khan
Updated, August 5, 2023: Barakah’s updated report on the meeting between Prince Rahim and Pope Francis includes some new information obtained from The Ismaili website.
Vatican News has reported that Pope Francis held a private audience with Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Lisbon. The Pope is currently on a visit to Lisbon for the World Youth Day (WYD) which is primarily aimed at young people. WYD was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985. It has since been hosted every 3 years in different cities around the world. During his current visit to Lisbon, the Pope has engaged in a series of interreligious and ecumenical encounters in which he has called on everyone to promote fraternity and care for the spiritual well-being of young people.
The Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community, reports that Prince Rahim conveyed warm greetings to Pope Francis on behalf of Mawlana Hazar Imam, and on behalf of the worldwide Ismaili community. The Pope thanked Prince Rahim for the warm gesture and asked that his good wishes be transmitted to Hazar Imam and members of his family, and to the global Ismaili community. The Pope and Prince Rahim discussed areas of mutual interest and the potential for future collaboration. Prince Rahim was accompanied by Nazim Ahmad, the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal.
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July 27, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Welcomes Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism to the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat
The Daily News Tanzania has reported that Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage Simai Mohamed Said is in Lisbon and will fly into Zanzibar with 288 Portuguese tourists next Monday, July 31, 2023 with a view to begin tapping into Portuguese market for tourism into Tanzania. Seven direct flights are expected to fly from Lisbon to Zanzibar during the tourist season. Among the tourists flying into Zanzibar next week will be Nazim Ahmed, the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal.
Another Tanzanian daily, The Citizen, reports that Princess Zahra Aga Khan met Minister Simai Mohamed on Thursday, July 27, at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon. The visit comes on the heels of Princess Zahra’s visit to Zanzibar in May 2023 to inaugurate a Polyclinic. Minister Said was accompanied by Mr. Rahim Bhaloo, Chairman of Zanzibar Commission of Tourism. Present also at the meeting was Mr. Nazim Ahmad. During the meeting Princess Zahra and her guests discussed a wide range of issues which included the activities and presence of the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network in Zanzibar. They also explored areas of cooperation in fields such as education, culture and other programmes which they described as the core foundation of improvement of the quality of life of populations.
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July 13, 2023: Aga Khan family members grace event celebrating 25th anniversary of the Ismaili Centre Lisbon; President Marcelo awards iconic building Portugal’s Order of Merit
Members of His Highness the Aga Khan’s family — his brother Prince Amyn and two sons Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad — and Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa were in attendance at The Ismaili Centre Lisbon as it marked its 25th anniversary celebrations on July 13, 2023. At the event, the Portuguese President surprised the audience by awarding the iconic building the Portuguese Order of Merit. Established in 1927, the Merit Award recognizes citizens or institutions for services that benefit Portuguese society.
The Lisbon Ismaili Centre is the the third in a network of six high-profile Centres in various parts of the world. It was inaugurated on July 11, 1998 by the then Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio in the presence of Mawlana Hazar Imam. The other five Ismaili Centres are in London (1985), Vancouver (1985), Dubai (2008), Dushanbe (2009), and Toronto (2014). The seventh Ismaili Centre is under construction in Houston, Texas.
The Lisbon Ismaili Centre’s elegant blend of traditional Islamic architectural motifs and Iberian elements, designed by the renowned architect Raj Rewal, has made it a distinguished feature within Lisbon’s urban landscape. The Ismaili Centre and its gardens have served as a symbol of cultural heritage, and a catalyst for bridge building and cross-cultural understanding.
Yasmin Bhudarally, the newly appointed President of His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Portugal, joyfully welcomed guests to the Centre, and expressed her gratitude to government representatives for their long-standing support for, and enduring friendship with the Jamat. In her address, she also highlighted the scores of events and programmes hosted across more than two decades, including multilateral conferences, diplomatic receptions, interfaith congregations, healthcare congresses, art exhibitions, and musical concerts.
The Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, Nazim Ahmad, thanked those involved in the building’s planning and construction — in particular former Mayors of Lisbon Dr Nuno Abecasis and Dr João Soares, who secured the land and awarded the construction licence — and acknowledged the support of the country’s President at the time, the late Dr Jorge Sampaio.
In his address, President Marcelo spoke in glowing terms about the presence and commitment of the Ismaili community in the country, and noted the vital role of the Ismaili Centre as a meeting point of cultures, faiths, and beliefs.
“Here in this Centre,” he said, “the Ismaili community has worked for Portuguese society in education, science, technology, taking care of children, and of the older generations — helping almost everywhere. You made a difference, with a very hard working and open minded community. A community that accepted and helped to build inclusion.”
External links: Click on the following link(s) for more coverage and photographs of the 25th anniversary event held on July 13, 2023, at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon.
- Website of the Portugal President: Comemorações dos 25 anos do Centro Ismaili (click on link or on photograph below for several more photographs.)
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July 12, 2023: King Charles III receives Prince Rahim Aga Khan
On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, King Charles III received Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Buckingham Palace.
This announcement appears in The Court Circular section of the July 13, 2023 edition of The Times. (If you subscribe to The Times you can read the brief notice HERE.)
The Court Circular is issued by Buckingham Palace and is the official record of past royal engagements.
Previously, in a news item dated May 6, 2023, Prince Rahim Aga Khan attended the coronation of King Charles III on behalf of his father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan.
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July 11, 2023: Report and Video — Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad Welcome the Portuguese Leadership to celebrate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 66th Imamat Day at the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat
On June 3, 2015, a landmark agreement was reached between Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and the Portuguese Government to establish the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in the country. Palacete Mendonça in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, was acquired and chosen as the site for the Seat. On July 11, 2018, on the occasion of his 61st Imamat Day, bringing his historic Diamond Jubilee to a close in Lisbon, Mawlana Hazar officially designated the building as the “Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat”.
Five years later, on July 11, 2023, the 66th anniversary of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Imamat, The Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat hosted a reception that was attended on his behalf by his younger brother Prince Amyn and two children Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad. They welcomed President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the country’s most senior leaders, including current and former Portuguese presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and mayors who were offered a first look at the restored site of the Palacete Mendonça in Portugal’s capital.
In his welcome address, Prince Amyn said:
“While this is not an opening of the Diwan, it is very special for us at last to be able to host you in this beautiful building and welcome you to the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat which has been designated by my brother, His Highness the Aga Khan, as the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat.”
Prince Amyn remarked that Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Jamat will forever be grateful to the Portuguese leadership and the country for their kind acceptance and welcome, dating back to the 1970s. This generosity, he said, has enabled the community to successfully integrate into Portuguese society.
“In keeping with the ethics of Islam,” Prince Amyn explained, “wherever we reside we ensure we are active in civil society, working in many fields of endeavour to offer our time, knowledge, expertise, and material resources to help better the cohesiveness of the communities and societies in which we live.”
“And in so doing,” he added, “our purpose is to uphold human dignity, to help improve the lives of the vulnerable, and to support the pluralism that exists here in Portugal, and which is crucial to the maintenance of a peaceful, compassionate and harmonious society.”
Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, in his address said:
“Today, the worldwide Ismaili community celebrates Imamat Day, in honour of His Highness the Aga Khan’s leadership and guidance over the past six and a half decades. It is a day of joy, of happiness – a day which we are immensely pleased to share with all who have gathered here today.”
In paying tribute to the Portuguese Jamat, President Marcelo in his address said:
“The Ismaili community in Portugal has about 10,000 citizens, fully integrated and imbued with the values of courage, innovation, persistence, and an openness to the world. It is this spirit of communion that keeps us firm and united at all times, good and bad, without hesitation.”
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Video: Imamat Day Reception Hosted at Diwan of Imamat
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External links: Click on the following link(s) for more coverage and photographs of the reception hosted at the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat on July 11, 2023.
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June 21, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan meets France’s Minister of the Interior and overseas territories, as Ismaili Council President, Shamir Samdjee, is decorated with Legion d’honneur
His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan has said that pluralism means not just accepting differences between people but embracing them completely. These deeply profound words speak first and foremost of the human and spiritual qualities of a personality who has given so much to our country, to France, and whose work continues to shine through his children and all the faithful Ismailis, whom he guides — Gérald Darmanin, June 21, 2023, at ceremony honouring President of the Ismaili Council for France
France’s Minister of the Interior and overseas territories, Gérald Darmanin, presided over a ceremony on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at the Hôtel de Beauvau, official home of France’s Interior Ministry, to bestow the Legion d’honneur, upon Shamir Samdjee, President of His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for France. Prince Rahim Aga Khan, oldest son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, attended the ceremony. Prince Rahim was received by Gérald Darmanin, with whom he held discussions on the collaboration between France and the Ismaili Imamat, before the commencement of the ceremony. The Prince is attending the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, hosted by President Macron this week in Paris.
In accepting one of the nation’s most prestigious honours, President Samdjee said, “I receive it with great humility and it obliges me, it obliges all of us here, to continue to do more.”
The Ismaili Council President spoke of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s commitment to France, and outlined some of the projects that the Aga Khan Development Network has undertaken with the support of French institutions. He also spoke of the history of the Jamat in France, who have migrated and settled from various parts of the developing world in recent decades. “Our history is diverse, coming from Madagascar, Africa, Syria and Asia. It shows that integration can be successful when it is based on the values of education, knowledge, intellect and hard work,” he said.
President Samdjee added: “As we contemplate this journey, we must realise that we are privileged today. We are here, at this very moment, strengthened by our heritage, which guides our actions. We owe this singular journey to the advice and ongoing guidance of His Highness the Aga Khan for almost seven decades.”
In his address to guests, Mr Darmanin paid tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam, and commended the contributions by the Ismaili community to civil society in France and around the world.
“His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan has said that pluralism means not just accepting differences between people but embracing them completely.” said Mr Darmanin. “These deeply profound words speak first and foremost of the human and spiritual qualities of a personality who has given so much to our country, to France, and whose work continues to shine through his children and all the faithful Ismailis, whom he guides.”
“The Ismaili faith advocates dialogue with all,” Mr Darmanin continued, “promoting diversity as a virtue, encouraging everyone to participate fully in the life of the country in which they live. It is a commitment to which the Aga Khan continually invites you, because there can be no dichotomy between the spiritual and the material, between faith and social life.”
External links: Click on the following link(s) for additional coverage and photographs of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s meeting with Gérald Darmanin and the honour that was bestowed on Shamir Samdjee:
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News coverage of Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s June 2023 visit to Kyrgyzstan
(1) June 16, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan shareS a message from Mawlana Hazar Imam at UCA’S 2023 Convocation
The following report of the graduation ceremony held on Friday, June 16, 2023, has been compiled from the website of The.Ismaili; please click on the link for the complete report and additional photographs. This section of the news page will continue to be updated while Princess Zahra attends events in Kyrgyzstan during her current visit. To read text of all the speeches made at the convocation ceremony, please click Speeches at AKDN.
The University of Central Asia’s Class of 2023 were honoured for their achievements today, June 16, 2023, at a special convocation ceremony held at campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and in Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan attended the event in Naryn and in her address shared a message from her father, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the University’s Founder and Chancellor.
Princess Zahra acknowledged the students’ achievements during a rigorous few years, and encouraged graduates to look ahead to the future. She said:
“In your time at UCA, you forged friendships that will last a lifetime….You acquired a new sense of who you are and what you are capable of. You tried and failed, tried again and succeeded, and felt the wind of confidence fill your sails and propel you toward new tests and trials.”
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Princess Zahra also shared a message from Mawlana Hazar Imam who underlined the challenges that Central Asia and the wider world faces today, including new forms of artificial intelligence, climate change, and globalisation. UCA has helped to prepare graduates to tackle these challenges, he said.
“In my eyes, you embody promise,” Hazar Imam’s message read. “The promise of a new generation, alive to new ways of collaborating, communicating, and thinking; and the promise of a new university, alert to emerging problems and eager to identify new opportunities to serve its countries. Born as the University of Central Asia was first taking shape, you are as young as the University itself. Equally bright futures lie ahead of you and your alma mater.”
“My wish,” Hazar Imam’s message concluded, “is that you will both continue to draw strength and inspiration from one another for many, many decades to come.
Video of Graduation Ceremony, with address delivered by Princess Zahra Aga Khan
Please click on the white arrow on the centre of screen — red block — to start watching the video and not on the YouTube button shown at bottom left. Princess Zahra’s speech in above video commences at approximately the 28:30 minute mark. Her reading of the message from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, who is the Founder and Chancellor of the University, begins at the 34:10 minute mark.
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(2) June 15, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan arrives in Naryn and meets with students and the UCA Board of Trustees
The following report of Princess Zahra’s visit to Naryn for UCA’s graduation ceremony has been compiled from the website of The.Ismaili; please click on the link for the complete report and additional photographs.
After meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubae in Bishek, as reported below, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, along with her children, Sara and Iliyan, travelled to the mountainous town of Naryn where they conversed with students, faculty members, and Time and Knowledge (TKN) volunteers at the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Naryn campus. She also visited Naryn town, where she explored the School of Professional and Continuing Education and the Aga Khan Medical Centre.
Princess Zahra and her children also attended a luncheon hosted by the Board of Trustees, where they had an opportunity to speak with graduating students about their time at UCA and their aspirations for the future. Sara and Iliyan were also taken on a tour of the campus by Associate Dean Sohail Ashrafi and members of the graduating class. They had the opportunity to interact with students and hear stories of their experiences at UCA.
To celebrate the outstanding achievements of its students, the University hosted a student awards night, attended by Princess Zahra. The atmosphere was filled with joy and emotion, not least for the recipients who were honoured with well-deserved accolades.
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JUNE 15, 2023: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING PRINCESS ZAHRA AGA KHAN’S VISIT TO KYRGYZSTAN
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FLASHBACK JUNE 19, 2021: His Highness the Aga Khan delivers virtual convocation address to UCA’s bachelor graduates (please read 2021 POST)
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(3) June 15, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan meets Kyrgyz Foreign Minister as she arrives in Kyrgyzstan to attend University of Central Asia’s graduation ceremony
AKIPRESS News Agency reports — please click for complete report and photographs and also see tweet from foreign ministry below — that on June 15, 2023, the foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, met with Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, as part of her visit to participate at the University of Central Asia’s graduation ceremony which will take place at the Naryn campus on June 16. The meeting took place in Bishkek, the country’s capital.
Minister Kulubaev thanked Princess Zahra for the active work of AKDN in Kyrgyzstan in areas significant for the country and for her personal support of the activities of the University of Central Asia, which have a multiplier effect and positively influence socio-economic development of Naryn region. In turn, Princess Zahra highly appreciated the bilateral interaction within the framework of AKDN project activities in the Kyrgyz Republic and expressed AKDN readiness to strengthen its support to Kyrgyzstan in promoting ongoing socio-economic reforms.
External links: For additional coverage of Princess Zahra’s meeting with the Kyrgyz foreign minister, please click on the following link(s):
- Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry ; and
- AKIPRESS News Agency reports (in English)
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June 14, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Bangladesh Prime Minister meet in Geneva to discuss education and climate priorities
The following report of Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s meeting with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has been compiled from a news release issued by the Aga Khan Development Network. The news also appears on the The.Ismaili, the official website of the worldwide Ismaili Muslim community.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan, eldest son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Her Excellency Ms Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, met on Wednesday June 14, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss education and climate priorities in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Hasina is visiting Geneva in part to participate in the World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All, organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Prince Rahim conveyed the continued commitment of His Highness the Aga Khan, and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to the economic and social development of Bangladesh. Building on nearly seven decades of cooperation, bilateral relations were enhanced through a Protocol of Co-Operation signed in 2013.
Prince Rahim acknowledged the good progress made by Bangladesh since independence over 50 years ago in improving many social and economic indicators, reducing poverty, and enhancing the quality of life of Bangladeshis.
Discussing the impact of climate change in Bangladesh and globally, Prince Rahim shared AKDN’s experiences and programmes to reduce its carbon footprint and outlined the climate adaptation and mitigation measures undertaken by the AKDN to enable green and sustainable development.
Her Excellency the Prime Minister conveyed her appreciation to Mawlana Hazar Imam and the AKDN for the contributions made in the country over many decades. The Prime Minister especially recognised the establishment of the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka, which seeks to create future Bangladeshi leaders who will contribute to the development of the country. The Academy offers an enhanced International Baccalaureate curriculum and leadership development opportunities to empower graduates to contribute to their societies in the country and around the world.
FLASHBACK 2013: His Highness the Aga Khan calls on Bangladesh Prime Minister
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June 6, 2023: Prince Amyn Aga Khan visits Porto for opening ceremony of the “Schools2030 Global Forum” and signing of AKFP – City of Porto agreement to promote quality of life
The following report of Prince Amyn Aga Khan’s recent visit to Porto, Portugal, has been compiled from the city of Porto’s web portal http://www.porto.pt. Click Portuguese report and English report to read complete reports as well as to view a gallery of photographs related to Prince Amyn’s visit.
Porto.pt, a web portal containing information about the city of Porto, reports that Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, signed a cooperation agreement between the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal (AKFP) and The Municipality of Porto on Monday June 6, 2023, at the Alfândega do Porto (Alfandega Congress Center). Readers are invited to visit the web portal for highlights of the agreement in Portuguese and English.
After the signing of the agreement, the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, and Prince Amyn attended the opening ceremony of the “Schools2030 Global Forum”, which took place for the first time in Portugal. It was held at the Congress Centre for three days.
In his address the Mayor said that Porto “has a long tradition of humanism and solidarity, of openness and intercultural dialogue, of tolerance and political pluralism, of promoting education, science and innovation”, and added: “Therefore, [the city of Porto] shares the goals of equity, inclusion, and quality that the ‘Schools2030’ program and the Aga Khan Foundation are promoting in education systems, in the so-called global south”.
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The Aga Khan Foundation Portugal’s program is focused on the sustained improvement of education from early childhood to secondary education, delivered by educational agents from ten countries (Afghanistan, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda) and runs from 2020 to 2030.
Porto Mayor Rui Moreira and Portugal’s Minister of Education, João Miguel Marques da Costa, made insightful remarks on the Schools2020 program. They both spoke in English. The following YouTube video carries their remarks as well as includes clips from the signing of the AKFP agreement by Prince Amyn with the Mayor of the Municipality of Porto.
Note: The above report was posted on this blog on June 11, 2023; the two events mentioned took place on June 6, 2023.
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MAY 21, 2023: PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN hosts UAE Minister of cULTURE AND youth
[The following report is compiled from the LinkedIn page of the Aga Khan Development Network and the Twitter page of the UAE Minister of Culture and Youth (see Tweet below – Ed.]
Prince Rahim Aga Khan hosted a luncheon on May 21, 2023, for His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal. The meeting offered an opportunity to further discuss matters of mutual interest and cooperation between the Ismaili Imamat and the UAE notably in the areas of culture and sustainability.
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Prince Rahim and His Excellency discussed the ways to enhance cooperation to fight climate change and its impact on historical sites ahead of COP28 which will be take place from November 30 until December 12, 2023 in Dubai. The Minister applauded Aga Khan Development Network’s substantial role in preserving cultural and urban heritage regionally and globally.
Shortly afterwards, His Excellency the Minister and his delegation were received at the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon, where they took part in a guided tour of the building and its gardens.
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Tweet: UAE Minister of Culture and Youth meets prince Rahim Aga Khan
Note: The above report was posted on this blog on May 30, 2023. The event took place on May 21, 2023.
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May 6, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Westminster Abbey for Crowning of King Charles III
Prince Rahim Aga Khan, representing Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, was among ninety heads of state, including kings and queens from around the world, to witness the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6, 2023. According to Buckingham Palace, some 203 countries were represented in the congregation of 2,200 people that also included members of the public invited by the king for their charity work. The ceremony, full of of pageantry and tradition and deeply imbued with Christian faith, was watched by millions around the world on television and online, along with hundreds of thousands of people who had lined the streets of London under occasional heavy rain. Some of the coronation rituals remained unchanged for more than 1,000 years. But for the first time, female bishops took part in the service, alongside leaders of other faiths.
Placing his hand on the Bible, Charles proclaimed his allegiance to God: “In His name, and after His example, I come not to be served, but to serve,” he said. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, led the service. He asked of King Charles: “The coronation oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law. Are you willing to take the oath?” The king replied, “I am willing.”
For Ismailis in the UK, the Coronation weekend offers an opportunity to join the festivities, and extend their active involvement in charitable and social initiatives in the country. For many decades, members of the community have worked closely with Royal organisations to promote peace, pluralism, and social progress in the UK and the Commonwealth.
Khatoon Noonan took part in the “Cook for the King” competition to celebrate the coronation, and was named the winner with her dish Pickling Masala Mutton Curry (see exclusive article on our sister website Simerg.) Shafina Jaffer’s piece of painted artwork featuring the Union Jack’s colours and floral motifs will be projected onto Windsor Castle and the performer’s stage during a concert on Sunday, May 7. Alnaz Gulamhussein has been recognised as an exceptional volunteer who goes the extra mile to serve her community. She was invited to attend the official Coronation Garden Party, which took place at Buckingham Palace a few days ahead of the king’s coronation.
And in Canada, where the University of Alberta’s Botanical Garden in Edmonton opens for the season on Monday May 8th, the Aga Khan Garden will be hosting special events throughout the day on Saturday, May 13, compliments of Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani, in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III. There will be no admission charge to the Botanical Garden on May 13. The coronation events at the Aga Khan and Japanese Gardens promise to be richly entertaining for young and old alike.
The report has been compiled from material on the websites of The Ismaili, the Voice of America and the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
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April 27, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Kampala
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni launched the construction of the Aga Khan University’s Kampala campus on Thursday, April 27, 2023, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in its history, as the University establishes a long-term future in Uganda.
The new campus, with its world-class facilities and highly-trained staff, will equip tomorrow’s health professionals with the competence and confidence to effectively lead and transform healthcare systems in the developing world. It will feature a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building, and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala.
“We aim for these facilities — in collaboration with partner governments and educational institutions — to be staffed by highly-trained clinicians, equipped with the latest technologies, and prepared to address the region’s changing burden of disease,” said Princess Zahra.
“Offering care in two dozen specialties, the hospital will, Insha’Allah, provide families with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that specialist care is available here, close to home.”
The highlight of the elegant ceremony was the plaque unveiling ceremony, performed by Princess Zahra and The Honourable First Lady, to mark the commencement of construction, followed by the Ugandan national anthem, the East African anthem, and the Nashid al-Imamah. In attendance were a host of representatives from the Government of Uganda; and leaders of the Ismaili community and AKDN.
The Honourable First Lady expressed her wish that the project would have a significant positive impact on the population: “It is my prayer and hope,” she said, “that in the coming years through the Aga Khan Teaching Hospital Kampala, thousands of our people will receive life-saving care, making it a beacon of hope; thousands of our babies will be born in delivery rooms, making it a scene of joy; and that thousands of our young generation will receive quality education, making it a hub for personal growth and transformation.”
“It is with great pleasure,” Princess Zahra concluded, “that we all come together on this absolutely wonderful site to launch this project, which, with your help and with your support, we know will make a huge difference for Uganda, for the region, and for medical care around the world.”
External links: For additional coverage of Princess Zahra’s visit to Kampala please click on the following links:
- AKDN: Speech by Princess Zahra at the construction commencement ceremony
- The Ismaili: Report and photographs – Princess Zahra in Kampala
- KFM News: Janet lauds Aga Khan for investing in education, health sectors
- Monitor: Janet set to launch Aga Khan University construction
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April 25, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga khan in Zanzibar
To stand where we are today, and to see the Old Dispensary re-opened as a polyclinic makes me immensely proud. This isn’t just about using and improving an iconic building, but it’s about bringing 21st century cutting-edge health services to this health dispensary building and reflecting the evolution of the Aga Khan Health Services and healthcare in Tanzania — Princess Zahra Aga Khan
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Would you, Princess, kindly convey to him [His Highness the Aga Khan] this message: Karibu Sana Zanzibar…His Excellency Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar also extends his warm greetings to His Highness the Aga Khan. We would be deeply honoured to have you visit our island again — First Lady of Zanzibar
At a special event on April 25, 2023, attended by Princess Zahra, daughter of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, doors opened to the Aga Khan Polyclinic, Zanzibar, a big step forward for healthcare provision on the island.
The new clinic’s home is the ornate ‘Old Dispensary’ on the waterfront in Zanzibar’s historic capital, Stone Town. Originally built by the Ismaili pioneer Sir Tharia Topan in the 1880s to address local healthcare needs at the time, it operated for this very purpose until its takeover by the government in the revolution of 1964. After decades of disrepair, the ornate property was carefully restored to its former glory by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in the 1990s.
At the request of the Government of Zanzibar, the Old Dispensary is now a functioning health centre again, after being transferred to the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS). The inauguration marks a major expansion of AKHS’s outreach programme, aiming to address the island’s complex healthcare challenges today, including high maternal and child mortality rates and the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Located in the heart of Stone Town, the new clinic is designed to offer a range of services, including emergency and urgent care, enhanced diagnostics, dialysis services, and dentistry.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to His Highness the Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan and the Aga Khan Development Network and its development partners, particularly the French Development Agency, AFD, for their ongoing efforts to support the United Republic of Tanzania in implementing our national priorities… may I take this opportunity to extend a warm invitation to His Highness the Aga Khan to visit Zanzibar in the near future. Would you, Princess, kindly convey to him this message: Karibu Sana Zanzibar…His Excellency Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar also extends his warm greetings to His Highness the Aga Khan. We would be deeply honoured to have you visit our island again.
The clinic will also serve as a hub for the provision of specialised care, offering patients high-quality services without having to travel to the Mainland. Stone Town, with its architecture and urban fabric that brings together African, Arab, Indian, and European influences, was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. Its many fine buildings reflect a uniquely coastal culture. This includes the oldest Ismaili Jamatkhana in Africa, with its famous double doors of ornately carved hardwood and polished brass finishings.
External links: For additional coverage of Princess Zahra’s visit to Zanzibar please click on the following links:
- The Ismaili: Report and photographs – Princess Zahra in Zanzibar
- The Ismaili: Speech of Princess Zahra
- AKDN: Speech by Zanzibar’s First Lady
- The Citizen: Aga Khan commissions new polyclinic in Zanzibar
Note: Barakah has published excerpts from Princess Zahra’s speech delivered in Zanzibar on April 25 in a thematic format HERE.
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March 18, 2023: Princess Zahra Aga Khan attends Aga Khan University’s first ever Founder’s Day ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
On Saturday March 18, 2023, the Aga Khan University (AKU) celebrated in Karachi, Pakistan, the graduation of the Class of 2022, its first-ever Founder’s Day and the University’s 40th anniversary. Simultaneous ceremonies were held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and broadcast online to an international audience of AKU’s friends and supporters. A total of 777 students graduated from AKU’s global campuses with diplomas and degrees in 19 fields, bringing the total number of diplomas and degrees awarded by the University to more than 19,000, including more than 4,500 in East Africa.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan attended the event in Karachi, and shared a message from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Founder and Chancellor of the University, in which he traced the AKU’s 40-year journey from 1983 to the present, calling the University a source of hope and expressing pride in its achievements and confidence in its future.
Mawlana Hazar Imam said:
“Together, all of us are the custodians of the founding vision. Our history gives us every reason to believe that so long as we remain true to that vision, AKU’s light – the light depicted in the University’s seal – will grow ever brighter, helping to illuminate the path to a better future for the people it serves.”
Overseas, the accomplishments of the AKU were noted by Dr. Cen Huang, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice President (International) of the University of Alberta, in the university’s official faculty and staff publication, The Quad. He wrote:
“Since its beginnings in 1983 as the first private university in Pakistan, AKU has quickly grown to become an international and intercontinental university, offering diverse academic programs spanning five countries and numerous teaching sites.
“As a non-profit institution, AKU’s mission is to empower the people of the developing world with the knowledge and skills to realize their highest goals, and it is achieving this vision. AKU was recently ranked among the world’s top 500 universities, among the top 250 universities in medical research, and in the top 30 universities in public health. Accomplishing this much in such a short time in comparatively resource-poor countries in South Asia and East Africa testifies to the commitment of AKU’s leadership, faculty, and staff, and their belief in the institutional mission.” The University of Alberta, which has hundreds of partnerships with institutions and organizations worldwide, has a long-standing engagement with the Aga AKU dating back to 2006.
External links: For additional coverage of Princess Zahra’s visit to Karachi please click on the following links:
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Hazar Imam sends message on AKU Founder’s Day
- VIDEOS: The Ismaili updates AKU40 Episode three and AKU40 Episode four
- Business Recorder: Aga Khan University celebrates Founder’s Day, 40th anniversary
- Dawn: AKU celebrates 40th anniversary on global convocation day
- International The News: AKU marks 40th anniversary with graduation of Class of 2022
- University of Alberta THEQUAD: Reflecting on the U of A’s partnership with the Aga Khan University on their 40th anniversary
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MARCH 13, 2023: His Majesty King Charles III Speaks on the occasion of Commonwealth Day, as Prince Rahim Aga Khan Leads the Procession of Loyal Societies
Whether on climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic co-operation, the Commonwealth can play an indispensable role in the most pressing issues of our time. Ours is an association not just of shared values, but of common purpose and joint action — His Majesty King Charles, March 13, 2023
The.Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community, reports that Prince Rahim Aga Khan on March 13, 2023, attended the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration, in the presence of His Majesty The King, Head of the Commonwealth, at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The annual event is organized by the Royal Commonwealth Society of which the late Queen Elizabeth is the patron. Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is the Vice President of the Governing Body along with The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, the Commonwealth Secretary-General.
The event was televised by the BBC, and can be viewed on the YouTube link provided above (Prince Rahim is seen shaking hands with the King at around the 1:08:26 hour mark as the King is departing the Abbey at the conclusion of the ceremony. Please also see photograph, below. )
Prince Rahim, representing Mawlana Hazar Imam, led the procession of Loyal Societies in his capacity as Vice President-designate of the Royal Commonwealth Society. Please download the complete PDF file of the proceedings of the day’s events by clicking The Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration. The procession of honoured guests and participants including Prince Rahim appears on page 5 of the PDF document.
Following the event, Prince Rahim met with His Majesty The King, as well as senior members of the royal family and delegates including representatives from other faith communities.
Commonwealth Day is celebrated each year with a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey. This year, His Majesty delivered his Commonwealth Day message during the service, in his new role as head of the Commonwealth. Please read the official text of the King’s speech below.
The Commonwealth Day Service celebrates the Commonwealth of Nations and provides an opportunity to focus attention on this voluntary association of 56 countries and their commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and equality for their 2.5 billion citizens. The annual event celebrates the unity, diversity, and linkages of the modern Commonwealth and seeks to foster greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role, particularly amongst its young people.
The BBC observed that there was an atmosphere of great happiness around the Abbey during this year’s celebration, and the place was full of life, noise and laughter.
The senior leadership of the UK Ismaili community were also in attendance.
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The following is the text of the speech of His Majesty the King as issued on the morning of March 13, 2023, by the Governor General of Canada. Please read the message at source HERE.
March 13, 2023
Commonwealth Day was an occasion of particular pride for my beloved Mother, The late Queen – a treasured opportunity to celebrate our Commonwealth family, to whose service she dedicated her long and remarkable life.
In succeeding Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth, I draw great strength from her example, together with all that I have learnt from the extraordinary people I have met, throughout the Commonwealth, over so many years.
The Commonwealth has been a constant in my own life, and yet its diversity continues to amaze and inspire me. Its near-boundless potential as a force for good in the world demands our highest ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be bold.
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the Charter of the Commonwealth, which gives expression to our defining values — peace and justice; tolerance, respect and solidarity; care for our environment, and for the most vulnerable among us.
These are not simply ideals. In each lies an imperative to act, and to make a practical difference in the lives of the 2.6 billion people who call the Commonwealth home.
Whether on climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic co-operation, the Commonwealth can play an indispensable role in the most pressing issues of our time. Ours is an association not just of shared values, but of common purpose and joint action.
In this we are blessed with the ingenuity and imagination of a third of the world’s population, including one and a half billion people under the age of thirty. Our shared humanity contains such precious diversity of thought, culture, tradition and experience. By listening to each other, we will find so many of the solutions that we seek.
This extraordinary potential, which we hold in common, is more than equal to the challenges we face. It offers us unparalleled strength not merely to face the future, but to build it. Here, the Commonwealth has an incredible opportunity, and responsibility, to create a genuinely durable future — one that offers the kind of prosperity that is in harmony with Nature and that will also secure our unique and only planet for generations to come.
The myriad connections between our nations have sustained and enriched us for more than seven decades. Our commitment to peace, progress and opportunity will sustain us for many more.
Let ours be a Commonwealth that not only stands together, but strives together, in restless and practical pursuit of the global common good.
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FEBRUARY 24, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and son Prince Sinan at Lisbon’s Royal Treasure Museum as Ismaili Imamat provides patronage support for acquisition of an exceptional artefact
On Friday, February 24, 2023, at the invitation of Pedro Adão e Silva, Portugal’s Minister of Culture, the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, visited Museu do Tesouro Real (the Royal Treasury Museum), in Lisbon, accompanied by Prince Rahim Aga Khan. The occasion was to mark the patronage support of the Ismaili Imamat in the acquisition of an exceptional 16th-century silver salver — a traditional serving tray — for the permanent collection of the museum.
Prince Rahim’s younger son Prince Sinan, who celebrated his 6th birthday on January 2, joined his father for the occasion. Present at the event were the Secretary of State for Culture, Isabel Cordeiro; the Museum Director, José Alberto Ribeiro; the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to Portugal, Nazim Ahmad; and the President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Portugal, Rahim Firozali. The group viewed the silver salver and other noteworthy pieces, highlighting the importance of their joint endeavour to safeguard Portugal’s historic cultural landscape.
External links: For additional coverage of Prince Rahim and Prince Sinan’s visit to the Royal Treasury Museum, please click on the following link(s):
- The Ismaili: Prince Rahim and the President of Portugal visit the Royal Treasure Museum
- The President of Portugal: Visita ao Museu do Tesouro Real com o Príncipe Rahim Aga Khan
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FEBRUARY 16-21, 2023: PRINCE HUSSAIN’S the living sea AT PALM BEACH SHOW
I took this photograph [dolphin photo, 3rd photo below] in Sataya, Egypt. I was running out of breath. I went below the surface a bit and this dolphin was rising up to my feet. My camera wasn’t working. Finally, he was at my chest and the camera still didn’t shoot. He went just above me and I looked up, arched my back, and I clicked. It worked. I had zero air left in my lungs — Prince Hussain Aga Khan, Arab News
Prince Hussain Aga Khan, second son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is presenting his series The Living Sea, comprised of works from numerous photographic deep sea expeditions, spanning a multitude of marine species, at the 2023 Palm Beach Show from February 16-21, at the Palm Beach Convention Centre.
On Thursday, February 16, the Prince was scheduled to give a talk at his booth under the topic “Souls of the Sea.”
According to a programming note issued by the organizers of the Palm Beach Show, Prince Hussain’s works are exhibited with Galerie Gmurzynska. For this year’s show, the Galerie seeks to bring together international masters such as count Pablo Picasso, Constantin Brancusi, Francis Picabia and others who pioneered the abstraction of the human figure. It is alongside these masters and in the exclusive charitable benefit of Focused on Nature (FON) that Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s fine art undersea photography is being presented.
Prince Hussain’s exhibition in Palm Beach has been reported in The Arab News dated February 17, in which the Prince expresses his passion for wildlife since he was 8 years old. The Prince mentions that he has been self-taught using the camera. He notes, “I’ve always loved wildlife photography; I’d buy books on it and watch David Attenborough and Jacques Cousteau documentaries when I was younger. I’m living the dream I had as a kid.”
The Arab News report also provides a very interesting account of the Prince’s encounter with a spinner dolphin in Sataya, Egypt, in December 2014. The iconic dolphin photo, shown above, is on the front cover of his beautiful book “Diving Into Wildlife,” signed copies of which can be purchased through this (Barakah) website. In the caption to the dolphin photo, Prince Hussain writes that this was the friendliest dolphin he saw in Sataya. He adds, “No other dolphin came even half as close to me. Much to my immense frustration, this is the only image I captured of the dolphin even though it performed a full spiral around me.”
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FEBRUARY 13, 2023: Prince Rahim addresses World Government Summit in Dubai; watch video excerpt
The Qur’an teaches us that as God’s noblest creation, humankind is entrusted with the stewardship of all that is on Earth, and that each generation must leave for its successors a wholesome and healthy social and physical environment. Stewardship of the environment, care for the natural world, sharing of resources, recognition of beauty as a divine blessing, and an environmental ethic are the principles that helped guide the planning of early Muslim cities — Prince Rahim Aga Khan, World Government Summit, Dubai, February 13, 2023.
During a unique plenary keynote session at the World Government Summit being held in Dubai from February 13-15, 2023, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Chairman of Environment and Climate Committee at the Aga Khan Development Network, spoke on the opening day on the urgent action we must take as a global community to advance progress and tackle climate change. Omar Sultan Al Olama Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Managing Director of the World Government Summit Organisation warmly welcomed Prince Rahim’s participation at the Summit. Prince Rahim’s speech can be seen in the following YouTube video from approximately the 7:12:10 hour mark to 7:22. Also, Barakah has presented the full speech thematically.
Introduction to Prince Rahim followed by his speech commences shortly after the 7:12:00 hour mark.
We also have a brief excerpt from Prince Rahim’s speech posted in Twitter below, following which we have external links providing textual coverage of the summit and Prince Rahim’s speech.
External links: For additional coverage of Prince Rahim’s speech at the World Government Summit, please click on the following link(s):
- Emirates News Agency: Prince Rahim calls for sustainable approach to city design at the World Government Summit 2023
- The Ismaili: Prince Rahim addresses World Government Summit in Dubai
- World Government Summit: Agenda for February 13, 2023 (Prince Rahim noted at 15:45 — 15:55 hour)
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January 20, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan atTENDS RECEPTION in hONOUR OF Dr. Farhad Daftary for his Contribution to the IIS and Ismaili ScholarshIp
I know I speak on behalf of His Highness and for all of us here, and the generations who will benefit from his scholarship, that we are very grateful that Dr Daftary chose this to be his lifetime’s work and that he has made such a major contribution to the field of Ismaili studies — Prince Rahim Aga Khan, January 18, 2023
The following report has been adapted from The.Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community, and the website of the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS). Both the official reports are dated January 20, 2023. The report includes a photograph from the editor’s archives from 2008.
on January 18, 2023, Prince Rahim Aga Khan attended a reception at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel to honour the contributions of Dr Farhad Daftary to the IIS, and more broadly to the fields of Ismaili and Islamic studies, as he steps down from his management roles at The Institute. The event was attended by staff, students, governors and leaders of the Ismaili community. Dr Daftary is succeeded as the Director of IIS by Professor Zayn Kassam, a highly accomplished scholar of Islamic and Ismaili philosophy and Islamic mysticism.
Prince Rahim announced that Mawlana Hazar Imam has decided to acknowledge Dr Daftary’s contributions to The Institute by attaching his name to forthcoming PhD Scholarships awarded by IIS — they will be known as The Farhad Daftary PhD Scholarships. Dr Daftary’s central role not only as a leader, but as the IIS’s most respected and productive scholar and author was also recognised by Prince Rahim.
“I know I speak on behalf of His Highness and for all of us here, and the generations who will benefit from his scholarship, that we are very grateful that Dr Daftary chose this to be his lifetime’s work and that he has made such a major contribution to the field of Ismaili studies,” he said.
“His seminal works on Ismaili History are universally recognised as the authoritative sources on this subject matter. His books, journal articles and encyclopaedia entries are referred to and cited by people around the world,” added Prince Rahim.
“This body of work will have a long-lasting legacy, and it has profoundly changed the landscape of Ismaili Studies.”
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Whatever contribution I have made to the field would not have been possible without the support and guidance of Hazar Imam and I owe him a debt of gratitude for this long journey — Dr. Farhad Daftary, January 18, 2023
Speaking at the event, Dr. Daftary himself said: “I joined The Institute in September of 1988 and since then I have witnessed significant growth and development in many ways from publications, manuscripts, translations, a sizable faculty, educational programmes, and unique educational materials that are appreciated by Ismailis throughout the world. IIS is a serious academic institution and a point of reference in Ismaili and broader Shi’i and Qur’anic studies. Whatever contribution I have made to the field would not have been possible without the support and guidance of Hazar Imam and I owe him a debt of gratitude for this long journey,” he added. Dr. Daftary thanked the board for making the transition in his recent career as smooth as possible and wished his successor, Professor Zayn Kassam the best of success in her new role.
External links: For complete coverage of the event at the IIS on January 18, 2022, honouring Dr. Daftary, please click on the following links. Note the contents of the two reports vary in detail, although the headings are identical:
- The Ismaili: IIS honours Dr Farhad Daftary on his retirement as co-director
- IIS: IIS Honours Dr Farhad Daftary on his Retirement as Co-Director
Correction: An earlier version of this post had indicated that the event was held at the IIS. It was actually held at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The editor regrets the oversight on his part.
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January 9, 2023: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Princess Zahra lead Ismaili Imamat and AKDN delegation to “climate resilient pakistan” conference IN gENEVA
In a marathon day long conference held in Geneva on Monday, January 9, 2023, dozens of countries and international institutions pledged more than $9 billion for Pakistan in response to last summer’s record breaking monsoon rainfall that caused catastrophic flooding, affecting more than 33 million people. Upwards of 1,700 people died, over 2 million were rendered homeless, crops were wiped out, and vital infrastructure was destroyed and damaged.
The international conference entitled “Climate Resilient Pakistan” was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. In the conference, Pakistan presented the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF), which laid out a multisectoral strategy for rehabilitation and reconstruction in a climate-resilient and inclusive manner. Pakistan also sought to secure international support and forge long-term partnerships for building Pakistan’s climate resilience and adaptation.
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the UN Secretary General, a delegation led by Prince Rahim Aga Khan and his sister Princess Zahra Aga Khan, representing the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), attended the conference that was held in Geneva at the Palais des Nations. Consistent with the Imamat and AKDN’s enduring commitment to Pakistan, and specifically climate resilience and adaptation, Prince Rahim and Princess Zahra expressed strong support for the 4RF.
Last September the Imamat contributed $10 million towards the response to the unprecedented flooding, and from the onset AKDN has been working to alleviate the impact on vulnerable communities across the country. As the crisis unfolded, thousands of people in affected areas were evacuated to safety, housed with host families or in temporary shelters, and provided with food and medical attention. The Aga Khan University healthcare camps have treated over 400,000 people in flood areas.
Reacting to the devastating floods, Prince Rahim said last September: “I am deeply concerned about the impact of the current floods in Pakistan, which have been intensified by the effects of climate change. These floods, and the many other weather events we are experiencing around the world, require us all — governments, businesses, communities, and individuals — to redouble our efforts to combat the climate crisis which threatens to engulf us. The institutions of the Ismaili Imamat have been mobilised to support the government in its relief and rehabilitation efforts.”
AKDN’s overall response plan seeks to not only provide immediate humanitarian relief, but like the 4RF, help communities recover and build back with long-term resilience to future disasters. To this end, Prince Rahim and Princess Zahra reiterated the commitment to deepen AKDN’s numerous activities on the ground, in alignment with the 4RF and in continued collaboration with the government, communities and international partners.
In wrapping up the conference, Pakistani Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the final tally came in above a target for the international community to meet half of the estimated $16.3 billion needed to respond to the flooding. The rest is expected to come from the Pakistani government itself.
External links: For additional coverage including conference videos of the above event, please click on the following links:
- Voice of America: Pakistan Hails Global Pledges of $9.7 Billion for Flood Rebuilding
- UNDP: Co-Chairs Summary International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan
- AKDN Attends the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan
Back to 2023 anchor links or read news stories between the 18 month period from July 13, 2021 to December 31, 2022.
Date posted: January 10, 2023.
Last updated: December 9, 2023 (new story, top of page).
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These are great pictures of Prince Rahim with Pope Francis and we welcome their publication in Barakah. We can see that His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is away. The members of his family seem to be very happy continuing the Work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). These conventions and meetings with various groups seem to be very successful. Through its work, the AKDN seeks to bring peace and security to create a better society.
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Beautiful pictures and coverage. Truly a labour of love. Allah bless you, Ameen.
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