Prince Karim Aga Khan IV dies at 88 in Lisbon

Prince Karim Al-Husseini, known as Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community, has passed away at the age of 88 in Lisbon, according to a statement from the Aga Khan Development Network. The announcement of his successor will follow shortly.

The Aga Khan, who led the Ismaili community of 15 million followers worldwide, was not only recognised for his spiritual leadership but also for his significant contributions to global development.

He devoted much of his life and resources to alleviating poverty and advancing education, health, and gender equality in some of the world’s most disadvantaged regions.

His philanthropic work was carried out through the Aga Khan Development Network, which operates schools, hospitals, and infrastructure projects in several countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.

In addition to his humanitarian efforts, Aga Khan IV was a successful racehorse owner.

His thoroughbred horses, such as Sea the Stars and Sinndar, achieved significant victories, and his most famous horse, Shergar, won multiple prestigious races before being kidnapped in 1983.

Born on December 13, 1936, in Geneva, Prince Karim spent his early years in Nairobi, Kenya, before attending school in Switzerland and studying Islamic history at Harvard University.

He succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, as the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismailis in 1957 at the age of 20.

Under his leadership, the Aga Khan Development Network grew into a prominent international organization, employing tens of thousands of people to improve living conditions in impoverished areas.

Throughout his life, the Aga Khan was known for promoting tolerance, peace, and development across different cultures and religions.

World leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have expressed their condolences, praising his legacy of compassion and dedication to global peace and prosperity.

The Aga Khan was married twice. His first marriage to British model Sarah Croker Poole in 1969 resulted in three children before their divorce in 1995.

In 1998, he married Gabriele zu Leiningen, and they had one son before their divorce in 2014.