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

2007, July 17: Cairo's Governor, H.E. Dr. Abdel Azim Wazir, and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture's General Manager, Mr. Luis Monreal, today signed an historic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) linking Al-Azhar Park, a future 'Urban Plaza' project at the northern end of the Park, and ongoing work by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Darb al-Ahmar. [AKDN]

2007, July 17: Princess Zahra Aga Khan at The Aga Khan University Hospital , Nairobi. [Photo]

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, 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, July 13: The restoration project, completed during the last year, has revealed much about the history of Ismailis in Syria while also saving parts of the castle from collapse. [Science American]

2007, July 12: His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims yesterday committed himself to support democratic processes, to find means to help the ultra-poor, and to address political and theological tensions through consensus amongst all Muslims. [Newswire]

2007, July 12: '...This exhibition is designed to give us a glimpse into the future...We hope and trust it will contribute to a deeper understanding among cultures - to the strengthening of true cultural pluralism - which is increasingly essential to peace, and to progress, in our world...' [Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan] [Photos] [The Globe and Mail]

2007, July 12: Khushiali, the anniversary of his coronation as Aga Khan, is celebrated every year on July 11. Because this year marks the 50th, a large-scale party was in order. [Edmonton Journal] [Dallas Morning News]

2007, July 11: Golden Jubilee celebrations are to be held in different parts of the world. As the Aga Khan himself, close family members and aides will be marking the day privately; elsewhere but from Afghanistan to Canada, Tanzania to the United Kingdom, members of the Ismaili community will seize the opportunity, not only to congratulate and wish the Aga Khan well but to reflect on his spiritual and worldly leadership. [Daily News - Tanzania] [Daily Star - Bangladesh] [Bhatia Music] [American Muslim] [Cybernoon] [La Presse] [Maputo Mozambique]

2007, July 11: 'We live in a time of rapid change - change that is often unpredictable and not always positive. My experience with development, as an observer and a practitioner, has led me to the conclusion that the best way to manage change, whether positive or negative, is to prepare for it and that there is no greater form of preparation for change than investments in education. [Aga Khan Schools] [H.H the Aga Khan's Vision]

2007, July 11: The Aga Khan, has gained notoriety in the United States and abroad for focusing his international business acumen on development rather than profit. [Earth Times]

2007, July 10: Following the Aga Khan's leadership, each community of Ismailis contributes locally and internationally to making the world a better place. Focusing particularly on developing nations in Asia and Africa, the Aga Khan through the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network has built over 300 educational institutions, including two universities, 200 clinics and health centers, five hospitals and other institutions dedicated to improving living conditions for the poor of the world, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. [Atlanta Journal]

2007, July 10: The Aga Khan is well known beyond his religious community for his wealth and for his good works - the Aga Khan Development Network, or AKDN, a group of private, international and non-denominational agencies, spends more than US$320 million a year on social and cultural development activities, mostly in the poorest regions of Africa and Asia. [CNews] [The News] [All Africa] [The Daily Nation] [AKDN] [Chitral News] [CanWest News] [570 News]

Following the Aga Khan’s leadership, each community of Ismailis contributes locally and internationally to making the world a better place. Focusing particularly on developing nations in Asia and Africa, the Aga Khan through the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network has built over 300 educational institutions, including two universities, 200 clinics and health centers, five hospitals and other institutions dedicated to improving living conditions for the poor of the world, without regard to their faith, origin or gender.

2007, July 10: The Ismaili community around the world is celebrating the golden jubilee of Prince Karim Aga Khan's ascension to the throne of the Imamat on July 11, 1957. 'Being the leader of the Ismaili community is not only a spiritual role, but it is also a material role,' said Iqbal Ahmed, a spokesman for Vancouver's Ismaili Muslim community.

2007, July 9: A new exhibition at The Ismaili Centre showcases masterpieces of Islamic Art for the first time in London. [Channel4 News]

2007, July 8: He presents a less threatening face of Islam on the global business stage during a time of war, the Aga Khan — one of the world's wealthiest Muslim investors — preaches the ethical acquisition and use of wealth and financial aid that promotes economic self-reliance among developing countries and their poorest people. [New York Times]

New York Times article about The Aga Khan includes extracts from a phone interview.

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, July 7: Spirit & Life, an exhibition of rare Islamic art and manuscripts never before displayed in the UK, will run this summer at The Ismaili Centre, South Kensington, London. Highlights will include miniatures from one of the finest illustrated manuscripts ever produced, the Persian epic Shahnama (The Book of Kings) and an extremely rare copy of the Canon of Medicine of Ibn Sina, used in Europe and the Middle East as the standard medical textbook for over 500 years. [Art Daily]