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

The Ismailis are one of the largest Muslim minority populations of Central Asia, and they make up the second largest Shiʿi Muslim community globally. First emerging in the second half of the 8th century, the Ismaili missionary movement spread into many areas of the Islamic world in the 10th century, under the leadership of the Ismaili Fatimids caliphs in Egypt. The movement achieved astounding success in Central Asia in the 10th century, when many of the political and cultural elites of the region were converted.

The Ismailis are one of the largest Muslim minority populations of Central Asia, and they make up the second largest Shiʿi Muslim community globally. First emerging in the second half of the 8th century, the Ismaili missionary movement spread into many areas of the Islamic world in the 10th century, under the leadership of the Ismaili Fatimids caliphs in Egypt. The movement achieved astounding success in Central Asia in the 10th century, when many of the political and cultural elites of the region were converted.

I am here to speak briefly about Central Asia. I wanted to share with you some of the reasons why the theme of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival this year is so important.

H.H. The Aga Khan arrived in the Kyrgyz Republic for a four day visit in the country. He was received by the Kyrgyz Minister of Education, Kanat Sadykov. During this visit, His Highness will travel to Naryn, where he will review progress on the construction of UCA’s main campus and brief provincial and local leaders on developments, including the opening of the Naryn campus which will admit its first undergraduate students in September 2016.

Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address this inaugural session of the World Mountain Forum.
I am especially happy that the Ismaili Imamat has been given the opportunity to participate in a Forum organised by and for all those concerned with the difficulties facing the populations of mountain regions, and to share lessons that have been learnt, to exchange mutual experience and advice, to better identify the problems that exist, and to try, as part of a joint effort, to propose new and more efficient solutions.