Aga Khan to support democracy, aid the poor
Jul 22, 2007
HIS Highness the Aga Khan has committed himself to supporting democratic processes to help the ultra-poor.
By Carol Natukunda
HIS Highness the Aga Khan has committed himself to supporting democratic processes to help the ultra-poor.
Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, also promised to address political and theological tensions through consensus among Muslims.
He was speaking at a ceremony to mark his 50th anniversary as the Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili community in France that was attended by over 250 leaders from the Ismaili community.
Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan as the 49th hereditary Imam on July 11, 1957.
Aga Khan highlighted the value of civil societies in contributing towards better processes of democratic governance.
“In many countries of Asia and Africa, democracy is young and still relatively ineffective to support modern development activities.
While a strong civil society can help to counter-balance such ineffectiveness, the processes of democratic governments must also receive more attention and support,†he said.
Reflecting on his time in power, he said several changes including decolonisation, the cold war, the fall of communism and effects of globalisation worldwide had taken place.
Aga Khan is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the largest non-profit development networks in the world.
In Uganda, the group has set up several investments including the Kampala Serena Hotel, Aga Khan University, a high school and primary school in Kampala.
On the present global conflict situation, the Aga Khan emphasised that Muslims themselves would be the best-suited to address some of the issues affecting them.
He called for the revitalisation of the values of Islam, which he said could only be done through greater collaboration among different interpretations of the faith.
HIS Highness the Aga Khan has committed himself to supporting democratic processes to help the ultra-poor.
Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, also promised to address political and theological tensions through consensus among Muslims.
He was speaking at a ceremony to mark his 50th anniversary as the Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili community in France that was attended by over 250 leaders from the Ismaili community.
Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan as the 49th hereditary Imam on July 11, 1957.
Aga Khan highlighted the value of civil societies in contributing towards better processes of democratic governance.
“In many countries of Asia and Africa, democracy is young and still relatively ineffective to support modern development activities.
While a strong civil society can help to counter-balance such ineffectiveness, the processes of democratic governments must also receive more attention and support,†he said.
Reflecting on his time in power, he said several changes including decolonisation, the cold war, the fall of communism and effects of globalisation worldwide had taken place.
Aga Khan is the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the largest non-profit development networks in the world.
In Uganda, the group has set up several investments including the Kampala Serena Hotel, Aga Khan University, a high school and primary school in Kampala.
On the present global conflict situation, the Aga Khan emphasised that Muslims themselves would be the best-suited to address some of the issues affecting them.
He called for the revitalisation of the values of Islam, which he said could only be done through greater collaboration among different interpretations of the faith.