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‘I’d like to see Canada more vigorous,’ he says in a Globe interview covering everything from Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan to the importance of pluralist societies

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims and renowned philanthropist, spoke to The Globe and Mail Friday in a conversation that ranged from the prospects for Afghanistan to his profound admiration of Canadian pluralism.

Jean-Jacques Lafaye - Votre Altesse, en tant que chef spirituel des communautés ismaéliennes du monde entier, vous exercez une influence indiscutable sur la scène internationale. Pourtant, vous ne souhaitez pas être considéré comme un acteur politique...

Karim Aga Khan - ...ou comme un politicien. De mon point de vue, même si la foi et les États doivent entretenir des rapports de collaboration et d'estime, le religieux et le politique sont deux choses bien distinctes.

Interview with His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV

THE POWER OF WISDOM
(translated from french)
Interview by Jean-Jacques Lafaye

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV
Spiritual leader of the Ismailis since 1957

Jean-Jacques Lafaye
Author and journalist. Founder of the association « Éthique et politique » (1988) Publications include: Saint-Just, l’ombre des chimères, Rocher, 2007; David Shahar, le sacre de l’écriture, Michalon, 2007; Dialogue pour un monde meilleur, Alban, 2008.

Jean-Jacques Lafaye — Your Highness, as spiritual leader of Ismaili

La princesse voulait devenir chanteuse quand elle a dû tout abandonner pour s’occuper de Rita Hayworth atteinte de la maladie d’Alzheimer

Interview Caroline Pigozzi - Paris Match

When the Aga Khan stepped onto the University of Alberta campus Tuesday to speak to graduates, he brought a message of ethics, citizenship and respect for diversity.

Addressing a "knowledge deficit" in these areas is essential for pushing global development in the right direction, he told graduates, noting his Aga Khan Development Network has made such virtues a key part of its educational mission.

In an interview with The Journal's Keith Gerein, he expanded upon his remarks, sharing his views on the way forward both for political leaders and ordinary citizens.

Q and A with the Aga Khan
The global spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims holds forth on the state of the world

Published: Friday, November 28, 2008

Following is a transcript of a conversation between His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims, and founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and Don Cayo of The Vancouver Sun. The interview took place Nov. 23 in Toronto.

Emphasizing that Investment in Culture is Principle in Development,
Prince Karim Aga Khan, in an Exclusive Interview with ‘Al Watan’: My Visit to Syria is Very Special to Me

By Waddah Abed Rabo

Prince Karim Aga Khan, the Imam of the Ismaili Muslim, has accentuated the

The Western world should accept that Islam does not separate the world from
faith.

He considers himself a spiritual leader as opposed to a powerful
businessman. He is interested in fighting poverty by promoting
self-sufficiency to people and culture. He believes that calling upon faith
in conflict situations affects all religions. The Aga Khan, spiritual leader
of the Ismaili Muslims, 71 years of age, rarely gives interviews. During his
passage through Lisbon, some days ago, he spoke to P2.

*By António Marujo and Faranaz Keshavjee*

A la fois chef spirituel, mécène, homme d'affaires et philanthrope, le 49e imam héréditaire des chiites ismaéliens consacre son temps et sa fortune à l'amélioration des conditions de vie des populations défavorisées. Le réseau d'institutions caritatives qu'il dirige agit en Asie et sur tout le continent.

Interview.

The French interview of The Aga Khan, as well as comments of the speaker have been transcribed and translated in English by the Heritage Staff for the members of www.ismaili.net.

Q: You have come to Mali several times. What is your aim this time?AK: As you know I am coming from Burkina and this trip is a trip so see our activities in West Africa, to assess the situation at a time when Africa is in the process of taking very very important global dimensions, so I have come to look and listen.
Q: You are investing a lot in the industries in Mali, are you satisfied of the operations here in Mali?

CBC: Your words are that the most preoccupying global threat is the failure of democracy. What do you mean?

in a rare interview, His Highness the Aga Khan describes his global approach to helping Islamic communities help themselves, while also restoring their past heritage

Religious leadership has always been linked with high finance. Uniquely, the institution of the Aga Khan has come to carry the ultimate lifestyle label as well. The triple burden sits lightly on the sharply cut shoulder pads of the present incumbent, revered by his 15 million followers in 25 countries as the 49th direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Anointed at 20, Prince Karim, now 68, has steered clear of both fundamentalism and the flashy life which killed his father, Prince Aly Khan.

RM: Your Highness, you are an inspiration to millions of Muslims around the world. We have traditionally associated religious leaders with austerity, with denials in a sense. You embody a fullness of life. What is the world view that circumscribes your work as an Imam?

Celebrating Beauty

The award was instituted as it was felt by the Aga Khan that the gap between past accomplishments and current practice in Islamic architecture was massive. Has that gap been bridged after the award was instituted?

There's No Conflict Between Islam and Democracy'In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the hereditary imam of Shiite Ismaili Muslims, argues that today's Middle Eastern terrorists are fueled by political motivations and not religion.
Your majesty, the world is shocked by terrorist attacks that are carried out by people who claim to be fighting for Islam. You, as a prominent Muslim leader, have claimed that Islam is a religion of peace. Does that mean that Islam has two faces?

Nur wer Menschen hilft, dient Gott'Karim Aga Khan IV.

Prinzessin Inaara, die Ehefrau des Aga KhanIhr Kampf gegen das Böse
und für die Kinder dieser Welt
Von INGA GRIESE
Prinzessin Inaara k

How do you see the current conflict in Iraq?