Portugal visit diary

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During his visit to Portugal, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with senior government leaders, including the President and the Prime Minister, and together with the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Catholic University of Portugal and the Aga Khan University. Hazar Imam also met with senior Jamati leaders and granted a Golden Jubilee Darbar in Lisbon.

Thursday, 10 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Cavaco Silva. Photo: Gary Otte
Mawlana Hazar Imam with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Cavaco Silva. Gary Otte

This afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in Lisbon, commencing his Golden Jubilee visit to Portugal.

Leaders of the Jamat gathered at the airport to welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam, who was formally received by Alberto Costa, Minister of Justice, on behalf of the Government of Portugal. Thousands of members of the Jamat from Portugal and abroad lined the route of Hazar Imam's motorcade to welcome him.

From the airport, Mawlana Hazar Imam went to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with President Cavaco Silva. Following their meeting, the Portuguese President and First Lady hosted a lunch in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Later in the afternoon, the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, met with Mawlana Hazar Imam at his hotel. Mr Sampaio, a former President of the Portuguese Republic, opened the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon exactly ten years ago, on 11 July 1998.

Also see the related press release and other coverage at the AKDN website.

Friday, 11 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam and Foreign Minister Luís Amado shake hands upon signing of an Agreement of International Cooperation between the Ismaili Imamat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic. Photo: Gary Otte
Mawlana Hazar Imam and Foreign Minister Luís Amado shake hands upon signing of an Agreement of International Cooperation between the Ismaili Imamat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic. Gary Otte

Mawlana Hazar Imam spent Imamat Day, his second day in Portugal, meeting with various government officials. He began by meeting with the Minister of Justice, Alberto Costa, at the Ministry of Justice. He then met with the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Jaime Gama, who also hosted a lunch in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Assembly building.

In the afternoon, Hazar Imam visited the Foreign Office to meet with the Foreign Minister, Luís Amado, which was followed by an evening meeting with Prime Minister José Sócrates at the Prime Minister's official residence. There, Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Foreign Minister signed an Agreement of International Cooperation between the Ismaili Imamat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic. The Prime Minister also hosted a dinner in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam, which was attended by Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya.

Also see related photos at the AKDN website.

Saturday, 12 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, D. José Policarpo, walk together through the gardens of the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon. Photo: Gary Otte
Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, D. José Policarpo, walk together through the gardens of the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon. Gary Otte

This morning Mawlana Hazar Imam visited the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, where he received the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Mariano Gago. Later, Hazar Imam was joined by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, D. José Policarpo.

Following their meeting, Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Cardinal Patriarch witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) and the Aga Khan University (AKU) by the Rector of the UCP and the President of the AKU. Also present was the Minister for Culture, José António de Melo Pinto Ribeiro.

In the evening, Mawlana Hazar Imam, accompanied by Prince Rahim, hosted a reception at the Ismaili Centre for diplomats, leaders of government and civil society institutions in Portugal.

Also see the related press release and photos at the AKDN website.

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam addresses leaders gathered at a dinner hosted by the Jamati institutions of Portugal in his honour. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam addresses leaders gathered at a dinner hosted by the Jamati institutions of Portugal in his honour. Zahur Ramji

This morning the Jamat of Portugal, together with murids from around the world, gathered at Parque das Nações in Lisbon for Mawlana Hazar Imam's Golden Jubilee Darbar.

In the afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity, José António Vieira da Silva.

Later in the evening, the Jamati institutions of Portugal hosted a dinner in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Monday, 14 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam heads toward his plane prior to departing Lisbon at the conclusion of his Golden Jubilee visit to Portugal. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam heads toward his plane prior to departing Lisbon at the conclusion of his Golden Jubilee visit to Portugal. Zahur Ramji

This morning, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Professor Adriano Moreira, President of the Sciences Academy of Lisbon (Academia das Ciências de Lisboa). Afterward, leaders and members of the Jamat gathered to bid farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam as he departed Lisbon, concluding his Golden Jubilee visit to Portugal.

Additional photos are available in the photo gallery.