The Assembly of the Republic, gathered in a Plenary, expresses its deep sorrow over the passing of His Highness Prince Aga Khan IV, recognizing him as a friend of Portugal and a strong advocate of Portuguese universalism — excerpt, tribute, Assembleia da República, February 5, 2025.

Prepared by MALIK MERCHANT

The Portugal Parliament, called the Assembleia da República, which translates to Assembly of the Republic, held a minute of silence during their tribute to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan IV, on February 5, 2025, a day after he passed away in Lisbon at the age of 88.

Mawlana Shah Karim’s funeral was held at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon on February 8, 2025, and was attended by Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, among other world leaders.

On February 13, 2025, after the ceremonial enthronement of the newly appointed 50th Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan V, which took place on February 11 at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, President Sousa welcomed him at Palácio de Belém, the President’s official residence.

The full text of the tribute to the late, longest-lived Imam in Ismaili history, signed by José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, can be read (in Portuguese) by clicking PORTUGAL TRIBUTE TO HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN. The corresponding video is at the bottom of this page.

[His Highness] contributed to the recognition of the role of religions in the public sphere, always understanding the spiritual dimension as part of the integral development of the human person — excerpt, tribute, Assembleia da República, February 5, 2025.

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The video of the tribute corresponds to the text in the downloadable PDF file and has English subtitles. The minute of silence is observed at the end of the tribute. The tribute mentions honours granted to Mawlana Shah Karim by Portugal and his address to the Portuguese Parliament during his Diamond Jubilee visit to Lisbon in July 2018. The historic event brought thousands of Ismailis to Lisbon for the celebration.

Prince Aga Khan’s projects focused on education, health, culture, and economic progress, always aiming not only to improve the material conditions of the populations but also to preserve local cultures, memories, and traditions — excerpt, tribute, Assembleia da República, February 5, 2025.

The tribute also mentions the Ismaili Imamat’s strong ties with Portugal and the establishment of the Ismaili Imamat’s Seat, which was declared by Mawlana Shah Karim as the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat on July 11, 2018.

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Prince Aga Khan’s projects focused on education, health, culture, and economic progress, always aiming not only to improve the material conditions of the populations but also to preserve local cultures, memories, and traditions — excerpt, tribute, Assembleia da República, February 5, 2025; please watch the video below for the complete tribute or click HERE for the PDF file.

Date posted: February 16, 2025.

Note to readers: This tribute in the Portuguese Parliament to Mawlana Shah Karim is an extension to Barakah’s comprehensive and fantastic post of tributes and messages of condolences from world leaders, institutions and individuals, and media coverage. The special tributes post, an exclusive and unique collection, is a MUST READ. Please click Tributes from around the world to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan IV (d. February 4, 2025)

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