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

His Highness the Aga Khan arrived in Malaysia today for the start of his visit to the Far East. In the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, he will officially inaugurate the exhibition titled Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Architecture in Islamic Arts at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

Extract from attached letter to the Referee by Mr Jiwa:

Deforestation is one of the great challenges of our times. Scientists estimate about half of all the forests that once covered the Earth are gone. The United Nations Environment Programme tells us that 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed around the globe every year. At that rate a forest the size of Kenya would be cut in less than six years. A forest the size of Uganda – three…

This year is the UN International Year of Forests. It should remind us of the importance of forests in our lives.

The latest occurrence in the Copyright Lawsuit is that a Jamati Member who has never met the Defendants volunteered as his brotherly duty to pay the $30,000 that was demanded in the Plaintiff''s submissions and that was accordingly ordered by the judge.

Mr Chatur wrote to the Imam: "I am making this payment from my own personal funds, and on behalf of my two spiritual brothers, out of love, brotherhood and affection. I do not know Alnaz Jiwa or Nagib Tajdin personally nor have I ever met them. I shall look forward to meeting them."

His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader (Imam) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, visited the University of California, San Francisco on April 26 to gain insight into the driving forces behind UCSF’s excellence in research and education, and to deepen the partnership between UCSF and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). He was also awarded the UCSF Medal, the University’s equivalent of an honorary degree, by Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH.

Your Excellency President Otunbaeva
Honorable Speaker of Parliament
Excellencies
Distinguished guests

Today is truly a special day—and for several reasons.
First, it comes at a special time of the year.

The festival of Navroz is a time when we think about renewal and rejuvenation—when we welcome a new spring season in a spirit of hope and optimism.

And that spirit is very prevalent as we gather here today to mark the opening of a new head office for KICB—and as we celebrate the spirit of forward-looking progress in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Ottawa, March 19, 2011 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement to recognize Canada’s Ismaili Muslim Community as it celebrates Navroz:

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my best wishes to all members of Canada’s Ismaili Muslim community as they celebrate Navroz in the days ahead.

“Canada has benefited greatly from members of the Ismaili community who have made, and continue to make, great contributions to Canada’s heritage, culture and society.

The IIS (Institute of Ismaili Studies) Website now has a Job Vacancy section:

Direct link

The Aga Khan Copyright judgment in January was the first Intellectual Property judgment of 2011. Attempts were made by defendants to bring back to the table the ideas put forth by the Imam in October 2010.

Defendants were told categorically by Gray that their input about aligning his drafted Order with what the Aga Khan said on October 15th was not welcome, no discussion would happen, and that they could make any comments to the Judge Himself.

Who Must Show Consent in an Intellectual Property Infringement Case? Is the question asked by Oxford Professor and Intellectual Property Expert David Vaver.

A purported Talika is being read out JK's around the world Tonight:

- With reference to Summary Judgment

- With strong language resembling Sachedina's , but not resembling any previous Talika of the Imam.

- With wordings of the January 24, 2010 Letter purportedly by Hazar Imam (Recall that questioned letter where it is said that His signature, which had remained steady for decades had now become very tentative and distorted because of old age and an old healed injury.)

Zanzibar government has contravened laid down procedures in leasing out two of its Forodhani Beach buildings and a garden to the Kempinski hotel group for 99 years. Sources said the hotel is planning to construct a five star hotel at the site.

Reports are that the Aga Khan Development Network, (AKDN) had already reached final stages of negotiations with the government to develop Forodhani area by building gardens and the first phase started last year.

The PDF text of the Judgment and Reasons for Judgment are placed on the Online Book for the Aga Khan Copyright Lawsuit:

PDF's of Judment are in the online book, here

All Comments on the case

Defendants Nagib Tajdin and Alnaz Jiwa have been continuously attacked and assaulted since the beginning of the Lawsuit.

Verbal and printed attacks against the defendants in Public and in Jamatkhanas are well-known. Reports of physical attacks are now coming to light.

Again, these attacks go against all of Hazar Imam's teachings. In light of the stand of the Imam during the Discovery in October 2010, there is no valid reason for these senseless attacks to continue.

Comments on Attacks

Paris, France, 9 November 2010 - The French Republic betowed the title of "Commandeur dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres." To H. H. the Aga Khan as well as "Officier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres" to His Brother Prince Amyn.

New Delhi, Nov.7 : Spending almost an hour at the 16th century Humayun Tomb complex, the Obamas held hands and listened carefully as the officer of the ArchaeologicalSurvey of India (ASI) explained in detail the history of the complex. They asked a few questions about therestoration work that the ASI and Aga Khan Trust were doing.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture Announces Master Jury for 2010

Geneva, 8 January 2010 – The members of the Master Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture were announced today. The Jury, which selects the recipients of the Award, will convene in January to review the 401 nominated projects and select approximately 25 finalists, which will then be subject to on-site reviews by independent experts. The Jury will meet for a second time in June to select the Award recipients from the group of finalists. Recipients will be announced at a ceremony in autumn 2010.

Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan was the 48th Imam of the Ismaili community and the grandfather of the present 49th Imam, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. His birthday is celebrated on November 2.

The structure was inaugurated in 2008 by Prince Karim, the Aga Khan, in the presence of senior UAE officials. A 3,000-square-metre public neighbourhood park was also created on parts of the land based on Islamic garden themes. The architecture is an amalgamation of everything that is beautiful in Islam.

NEW DELHI: This cultural revival project is a part of the vocational training programme of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture's urban renewal project in the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti and is co-funded by Ford Foundation. The women have been trained by skilled craftsmen. According to officials, the project aims to link heritage with opportunities for economic gain by training both women and men.