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

Of two notable speeches from very different Muslim leaders scheduled this month for influential audiences in Canada, only one was delivered. In Ottawa, Zijad Delic, executive director of the Canadian Islamic Congress, had been asked to speak at National Defence headquarters, but that invitation was revoked by Defence Minister Peter MacKay over charges that the congress’s leaders have taken extremist positions in the past (even though Delic is widely seen as a moderate). There was never any doubt, however, that the second speech would go off without a hitch.

A Toronto lawyer who settled a copyright dispute with the Aga Khan says he has no regrets about how the high-profile case played out.

Alnaz Jiwa had previously refused to believe the Aga Khan was the man behind the action requesting he halt distribution of unauthorized copies of the imam’s teachings but at a face-to-face meeting in Toronto on Oct. 15, he got the message straight from the source.

“If he doesn’t want us to do something, there is no way I am going to do it,” Jiwa tells Law Times.

In a world where technology and human migration push people of differing backgrounds increasingly “in each other’s face,” spiritual leader the Aga Khan hailed Canada as a country that has got pluralism right.

The religious leader — imam — of the world’s 14 million Shia Ismaili Muslims praised this country for allowing citizens to keep their identity as they become Canadian.

The Aga Khan, second from right, chats to former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson at Koerner Hall in Toronto Friday night. Peter Simon, president of the Royal Conservatory of Music is on Clarkson's left, and John Ralston Saul is on the Aga Khan's right.

The Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson, Mr. John Ralston Saul, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mesdames et Messieurs:

When I first received this invitation, I was deeply honored. But I was also, perhaps, a bit intimidated.

I was impressed by the Lecture’s prestigious history, the contributions of nine former Lecturers, and the Lecture’s focus on Canada’s civic culture.

2010-10-15: Heritage news was able to speak briefly with the defendants to ask our burning questions: Did the discovery happen? How long? What was accepted by whom? What was not mentioned? What were the main messages? Here are some answers:

- The discovery did happen, Hazar Imam arrived at 10:40am. Mr Gray brought also Sachedina and Manji.

- The meeting lasted a half-hour of which nothing from the Imam was on the record as Mr Gray put everything off record.

Toronto, 14 October 2010 — Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Toronto today, where he will deliver this year’s lecture at the 10th annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium.

Upon his arrival in Toronto this afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam was greeted by the Honourable Gerry Phillips, Minister Without Portfolio and Chair of Cabinet in the Government of Ontario, as well as Mohamed Manji, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada.

TORONTO, Oct. 13 /CNW Telbec/ - His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), will deliver the keynote lecture at the Institute for Canadian Citizenship's (ICC) 10th Annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium, on Friday, October 15, 2010, at the Royal Conservatory of Music's Koerner Hall in Toronto. The ICC was founded by the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, 26th Governor General of Canada, in 2005 as her legacy project, and is co-chaired by John Ralston Saul.

So far, the cross-examinations have shown that the whole case is orchestrated by a couple of people. The Plaintiff's case has not shown any access to, nor any evidence from the Imam. The Plaintiff party is therefore now trying to undermine the firm forgery evidence that the defendants have got.

Here is a detailed table of contents of the cross-examinations for the Motions for Summary Judgement in the Copyright Lawsuit allegedly filed by the Aga Khan. We tried to include everyone's burning questions.

Are Farmans to be followed?

Heritage News has obtained the cross-examination transcripts, and they contain many revelations. First impression from Heritage News is that the three people who allegedly represent the Imam in this case seem to confirm everything that the defendants have been saying! The defendant's position comes out even clearer and stronger! - But you be the judge once the transcripts are available.

Mr Gray's questions show his lack of knowledge of the Imamat, the Ismaili Faith and the Institutions. His questions instead, undermine the Imam!

Request by the Defendants for Discovery Would Help the Plaintiff Win

The Plaintiff's Lawyer, Mr. Gray informed the Defendants that he advised the Imam NOT to attend for Discovery, which prompted the Defendants to question, why would counsel advise against a five-minute meeting to end the case and instead continue toward 10 or more full days' worth of legal proceedings other than to earn excess fees... Hence the bringing of the Motion by the Defendants to stay all cross-examinations until it can be confirmed if the Imam is really behind the litigation.

Since the Defendants are acting on a Farman to them made in 1992, and since this Farman also gives instructions and guidance to continue distributing Farmans, then there is nothing in Ismaili Faith nor in the Canadian Legal system that can force them to stop their actions except the Imam, by giving new instructions Himself.

Supplementary Affidavit of Nagib Tajdin sworn June 16, 2010
Exhibit A - letter from Nagib Tajdin to the Aga Khan dated January 4, 2010.pdf

Letter humbly written by Nagib Tajdin to the Aga Khan submitting Mehmani, Nazrana, and asking for guidance and asking for sincere forgiveness.