Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

2007, July 14: 'Political situations with a theological overlay are causing disaffection or antagonism between communities of the same faith, and even more so amongst different faiths,' he said, as the final touches were being put to the exhibition in the Ismaili Centre in London this week. 'At the centre of this turbulence is Islam. We cannot let this continue.' His exhibition, he hopes, will provide the opportunity for a more enlightened encounter and go some way to dispelling the 'countless misconceptions and misunderstandings' between Islam and the West. [The Independent]

2007, August 27:Kuala Lumpur will host the triennial 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, touted as the world's largest and most important architectural award with prizes totalling US$500,000, at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in the Petronas Twin Towers here on Sept 4.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismail Muslims, will announce this year's winners. [Bernama] [News] [Bernama Stamp]

2009, february 11: Cambridge Honorary Degrees 2009 - The University of Cambridge has today announced the names of 12 distinguished people, to be submitted for approval to the Regent House for the conferment of honorary degrees. Among those submitted are: His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussayni, the Aga Khan (Doctor of Divinity). It is expected that that the honorary doctorates will be conferred at a Congregation to be held on Friday, 12 June.

2007, July 17: There is a guiding philosophy, an animating ethos, behind the AKDN - Islam. Over and over again, the Aga Khan has emphasized that his work for mercy, compassion and dignity emerge directly from his commitment to Islam. [Washington Post]

2007, September 4:It was among nine projects that split the $500,000 Aga Khan award, awarded every three years and founded by philanthropist Prince Karim Aga Khan in 1977 to recognize and encourage designs that met 'the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies'. [Speech] [Press Release] [Reuters] [AFP] [Hindu News Service] [Reuters] [Bernama] [Photos] [Inhabitat] [Architectural Record] [More Photos]

April 14 - The University of Texas at Austin has established a five-year exchange agreement with Aga Khan University (AKU) in Pakistan, which has campuses in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The agreement includes research collaborations, special events and lectures, secondary teaching training programs, and faculty and student exchanges. [News]

2007, July 17: Designed to illustrate the richness of Muslim culture and highlight its strong humanist traditions, Spirit and Life brings together highlights of Islamic art from the collection of the Aga Khan, leader of the Shi'a Ismaili Muslims, who celebrated 50 years of his reign this month. [Evening Standard]

2007, September 11:In France last week, a birthday party was held in Aiglemont, the home and business center in the Picardie of the Aga Khan, given for his brother Prince Amyn, and his daughter Princess Zahra. [New York Social Diary]

2007, October 27:His Highness The Aga Khan visited Abu Dhabi and met with General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. [WAM 1] [WAM 2] [Photos]

April 15 - The University of Texas has established a five-year exchange agreement with Aga Khan University in Pakistan. The agreement will expand UTeach-Liberal Arts' Muslim Histories and Cultures Program, a training program for Texas high school teachers. [San Antonio]

2007, July 20: 'His Highness the Aga Khan is celebrating 50 years on the throne. As part of the celebrations, we have decided to carry out several free malaria treatment clinics to benefit people who can't access medication,' Nazeem explained. [New Vision]

2007, November 20:His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader (Imam) of the Ismaili Muslims, praised Mozambique as a model of successful post-conflict development and hailed the country's economic performance and tenacity in overcoming difficulties. [Press Release] [Speech] [Article] [Article 2] [ Forum Mozambique] See links in http://ismaili.net/timeline/2007.html

April 12 - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, and Texas Governor Rick Perry today hailed a landmark agreement between the Aga Khan University (AKU) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) as a move towards narrowing the gap between the West and Islam and towards bridging the gulf between the industrialised countries and the developing world. [Press Release] [Texas Gala Photos]

2007, July 20: The 20,000-strong community in Dubai will celebrate the anniversary in a series of events and the inauguration of several cultural and educational centres, a representative of the Ismaili community in Dubai told Gulf News. [Gulf News]

2008, May 23: [The New Nation] Prince Karim Aga Khan, left here yesterday afternoon for home ending his four-day visit to Bangladesh. Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury saw him off at the VVIP terminal of the Zia International Airport.Aga Khan placed a wreath at the National Monument for unknown martyrs soon after his arrival in Dhaka paying homage to their memories. He held meetings with Finance Adviser Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Religious Affairs Adviser A F Hassan Ariff.

2007, July 20: The ismailis in Mombasa celebrate with speeches, parades and music. [Coast Week]

2007, July 4: On July 11, 2007, Karim Aga Khan IV will celebrate his golden jubilee: fifty years with the head of an empire which is also one of the most effective networks of development of planet. [L'Express]

2007, August 12: His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, arrives in the country today to begin a 12-day official visit of the East African region.

The Nation (Nairobi)
13 August 2007
Jeff Otieno
Nairobi
East Africa: Aga Khan Arrives for Tour of Region

The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, arrived in Nairobi yesterday for the first leg of a 12-day official visit to East Africa.

The plane carrying the Aga Khan landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 5 pm to a red carpet reception by the Government.

2007, July 8: Ismaili Muslim community is ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ascension to the Imamat of their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan. While the actual anniversary will be marked all over the world on July 11th, events are planned throughout the year. 'As our spiritual leader, his role is to interpret the faith and to advance the well-being of the Ismaili community from both a spiritual and a worldly aspect and improve the quality of life of the societies in which Ismailis live.' [Calgary Herald] [Star Telegram] [The Province] [The Province]

2007, August 16: The works and achievements of the influential spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims have long been baffling to categorize. But as this rather enigmatic figurehead pays an official visit to East Africa the results of his work in rural development, education and healthcare on the continent are sparking interest. [CNN][Tanzania visit: 82 exclusive photos here][Zanzibar visit - 80 exclusive photos - here!][Uganda - Bujagali Power Plant Foundation Ceremony - 137 exclusive photos - here!]
- See all this in the Timeline section: http://ismaili.net/timeline/2007.html