The Aga Khan IV, billionaire and spiritual leader of Ismaili muslims has died at age 88, im charity the Aga Khan Development Network don announce.
Statement from AKD read, his Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family. Prince Karim Aga Khan was the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.
The Aga Khan was a defender of Islamic culture and values and was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West despite his reticence to become involved with politics.
Prince Karim Aga Khan na di 49th hereditary imam of di Ismaili Muslims, wey trace im lineage directly to di Prophet Muhammad.
E “passed away peacefully” for Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by im family, im charity tok inside statement on social media.
Born for Switzerland, e bin get British citizenship and live for chateau inside France.
E be friend to both King Charles and im mother, di late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Aga Khan charities run hundreds of hospitals, educational and cultural projects, mainly for di developing world.
The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organisation, deals principally with healthcare, housing, education, and rural economic development.
It claims to work in more than 30 countries, employing 96,000 people and has an annual budget of about $1bn for development activities. It helps to build schools and hospitals in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia.