The late Prince Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV passed away on Feb 4, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 88. He is remembered not only by his faithful followers but also by vulnerable communities globally, as he was a champion of community-based development as well as efforts to combat natural disasters.
Late Prince Karim, the Aga Khan IV, was not only the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, but also a prominent statesman and key supporter of global development.
Prince Karim was born on Dec 13, 1936 in Geneva to late Prince Aly Khan and his first wife, the late Princess Tajuddawlah, née Joan Yarde-Buller. He spent his early childhood in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
The philanthropist was also an accomplished skier and represented Iran at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.
He founded what is now the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) more than 50 years ago, with the purpose of improving the quality of life of those in need — regardless of origin, race, gender or religion — through efforts in health care, education, habitat, culture and the creation of economic op
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