A Royal Farewell in Lisbon
On February 8, members of international royalty and dignitaries gathered in Lisbon to pay their final respects to Prince Aga Khan IV, who passed away on February 4 at the age of 88. The private funeral took place at the Ismaili Center, attended by notable figures including Spain's former king Juan Carlos, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Key Attendees
In the front row were family members including Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the successor who will be enthroned as the 50th hereditary imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims on February 11, along with his brothers Hussain and Aly Muhammad, and Aga Khan IV's brother, Prince Amyn Muhammad. The ceremony followed Ismaili traditions, featuring readings from the Quran and expressions of condolences.
A Legacy of Compassion
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa remarked on the significant contributions of Aga Khan IV to social works, education, and healthcare, stating that his influence has grown over the past decade. Paulo Rangel, a prominent political figure, emphasized the prince's role as a key player in promoting peace, inter-religious dialogue, and humanitarian aid across the globe.
Final Resting Place
After the Lisbon ceremony, the body of Aga Khan IV will be transported to Egypt for burial in the family mausoleum in Aswan during a private ceremony on February 9.
Prince Aga Khan IV, born Shah Karim al Hussaini in Switzerland, had strong ties to Canada, Iran, France, and recently Portugal, where Lisbon was chosen as the global headquarters for the Ismaili community, serving approximately 15 million Shia Muslims worldwide.
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