Bill Text: VA SJR393 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)
Status: (Passed) 2025-02-20 - Agreed to by House [SJR393 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-SJR393-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25106819D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 393
Offered February 14, 2025
Celebrating the life of His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan.
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Patron—VanValkenburg
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WHEREAS, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims who was guided by the Mandate of the Imamat to serve people around the world, and was the founder and chair of the Aga Khan Development Network, died on February 4, 2025; and
WHEREAS, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan was born in Geneva, Switzerland, to Prince Aly Khan and Princess Taj-ud-dawlah Agakhan, formerly Joan Yarde-Buller; his family traces its lineage to the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima and her husband, Hazrat Ali, the first imam of Shia Islam; and
WHEREAS, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan lived in Kenya for part of his youth, attended the Institut Le Rosey boarding school in Switzerland and studied at Harvard University; and
WHEREAS, after the death of his grandfather, Aga Khan III, in 1957, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan was designated as the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, a global, multi-ethnic community whose members represent many cultures, languages, and nationalities across Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America; and
WHEREAS, though only 20 years old at the time of his Ascension, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan was deeply committed to promoting Islam as a compassionate faith that upholds the dignity of mankind and continuing his grandfather's work to enhance the quality of life of not only the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, but all peoples in need around the world; and
WHEREAS, to fulfill this mission, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan established the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and create opportunities for people across the developing world; and
WHEREAS, the Aga Khan Development Network has supported programs related to health care, housing, education, architectural preservation, and rural economic development in more than 30 countries; the organization has worked closely with governments, international organizations, corporations, foundations, and universities to meet the challenges of social, economic, and cultural change on an on-going basis; and
WHEREAS, through his philanthropic leadership, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan developed strong bonds with heads of state, business leaders, and people of all races, genders, ethnicities, faiths, and backgrounds; he fostered interfaith cooperation and understanding and was well-respected as a champion for tolerance, peace, and human progress; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his incomparable lifetime of achievements, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan earned countless awards, accolades, decorations, and honorary degrees, from institutions and nations around the world; and
WHEREAS, His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by numerous family members, friends, people whose lives he touched through the Aga Khan Development Network, and the global Shia Ismaili Muslim community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan, a revered spiritual leader, respected business magnate, and peerless philanthropist; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of His Highness Prince Karim Agakhan as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
