Aga Khan now a Canadian citizenCanada's parliament on Friday extended honorary Canadian citizenship Honorary Canadian citizenship is an honour bestowed by the Parliament of Canada to foreigners of exceptional merit. It is a symbolic honour and does not give the recipient any rights, privileges or duties typically held by a Canadian citizen. to the Aga Khan Aga Khan (ä`gä khän), the title of the religious leader and imam of the Ismaili Nizari sect of Islam, originally bestowed by the Persian shah Fath Ali on Hasan Ali Shah, 1800–1881, the 46th Ismaili imam, in 1818. , imam of the world's Shia Ismaili Muslims, said a statement. "This is recognition of the Aga Khan's leadership as a champion of development, pluralism and tolerance around the world and of his remarkable leadership as Imam of the worldwide Ismaili community," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "In particular, we are grateful for the immense contribution the Aga Khan Development Network The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. is making in Afghanistan, as we work together to help the people of that country build a better future," he said. The Aga Khan, Prince Karim Al Husseini, 72, is the spiritual head of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims. He is the fourth such person to hold the post since the 19th century. Ismailis make up the world's second largest Shia grouping and are spread throughout 25 countries. Previously, only four people have ever been extended honorary Canadian citizenship: Myanmar pro-democracy activist and Nobel laureate Noun 1. Nobel Laureate - winner of a Nobel prize Nobelist laureate - someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wreath Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi (oung sän s  chē), 1945–, Burmese political leader. last year, and before that Nelson Mandela Noun 1. Nelson Mandela - South African statesman who was released from prison to become the nation's first democratically elected president in 1994 (born in 1918)Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela , the Dalai Lama, and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during the Second World War. Most Canadian Ismaili Muslims arrived in this country after being forced out of Uganda by its former ruler Idi Amin in the 1970s. They now number roughly 70,000 in Canada. Canada has partnered with the Aga Khan's agencies on development projects in Asia, Africa and Afghanistan, as well as to promote ethnic, cultural and religious tolerance. 
|
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion