United Kingdom visit diary

Between 2 – 8 July 2008, Mawlana Hazar Imam visited the United Kingdom, where Her Majesty the Queen hosted a dinner in his honour. Hazar Imam also met with senior UK government leaders, including the Prime Minister, as well as senior Jamati and institutional leaders, and granted a Golden Jubilee Darbar at the ExCeL centre.

Wednesday, 2 July 2008

Leaders of the UK Jamat welcoming Mawlana Hazar Imam to London. Photo: Gary Otte
Leaders of the UK Jamat welcoming Mawlana Hazar Imam to London. Gary Otte

This afternoon, Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in London, England, commencing his seven-day Golden Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom. He was greeted at the airport by officials of the British Government and leaders of the UK Jamat.

Thursday, 3 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam with British Prime Minister The Rt Hon Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street. Photo: Gary Otte
Mawlana Hazar Imam with British Prime Minister The Rt Hon Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street. Gary Otte

This morning, on the first full day of his Golden Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the British Government's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt Hon David Miliband MP at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Mawlana Hazar Imam was a guest of honour at a luncheon hosted by the Rt Hon Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor. After lunch Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown.

In the evening Mawlana Hazar Imam hosted a reception for diplomats and senior government officials, followed by an Imamat dinner attended by political and civil society leaders from across the United Kingdom.

In his speech at the event, Mawlana Hazar Imam acknowledged the various partners in the UK and Europe that have worked with the Aga Khan Development Network and spoke of the development of the Jamat in the UK. The Rt. Hon John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, delivered a short address acknowledging the work done by Mawlana Hazar Imam and the AKDN in the United Kingdom.

Also see the text of Mawlana Hazar Imam's speech as well as related coverage on the AKDN website.

Friday, 4 July 2008

Professor Azim Nanji and Dr Farhad Daftary of the IIS present Mawlana Hazar Imam with a copy of <em>The Ismailis: An Illustrated History<em>. Photo: Gary Otte
Professor Azim Nanji and Dr Farhad Daftary of the IIS present Mawlana Hazar Imam with a copy of The Ismailis: An Illustrated History. Gary Otte

This morning, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with faculty and staff from The Institute of Ismaili Studies and the Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations at the Ismaili Centre. During the reception, the leaders of the IIS presented Mawlana Hazar Imam with a copy of their latest publication titled The Ismailis: An Illustrated History.

Later, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited the Ismaili Centre to meet with Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Saturday, 5 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam in conversation with volunteers as he departs the ExCeL centre following the Darbar. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam in conversation with volunteers as he departs the ExCeL centre following the Darbar. Zahur Ramji

This afternoon, the Jamat of United Kingdom and the countries under its jurisdiction, together with members of the international Jamat, gathered at the ExCeL centre in London for a highly anticipated Golden Jubilee Darbar.

Sunday, 6 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam is accompanied by President Zauhar Meghji of the Ismaili Council for the United Kingdom, as he leaves the Jamati institutional dinner held at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. Photo: Zahur Ramji
Mawlana Hazar Imam is accompanied by President Zauhar Meghji of the Ismaili Council for the United Kingdom, as he leaves the Jamati institutional dinner held at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. Zahur Ramji

Today, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Ismaili Leaders' International Forum at the Ismaili Centre in London.

In the evening, Mawlana Hazar Imam was the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Jamati Institutions of the United Kingdom, held at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. During the dinner, guests were treated to a musical performance by the Ismaili Ensemble. The piece, which was presented to Mawlana Hazar Imam as a gift, was appropriately titled Armaghan – a Persian word meaning ‘gift.'

Monday, 7 July 2008

Mawlana Hazar Imam together with Her Majesty the Queen during a dinner hosted by Her Majesty in honour of Hazar Imam at Buckingham Palace. Photo: Gary Otte
Mawlana Hazar Imam together with Her Majesty the Queen during a dinner hosted by Her Majesty in honour of Hazar Imam at Buckingham Palace. Gary Otte

In the morning Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development at the Department for International Development. In the afternoon the Rt Hon David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition met with Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Ismaili Centre.

In the evening Her Majesty the Queen hosted a black-tie dinner in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke of York from the Royal Family, and Prince Amyn, Princess Yasmin, Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya from the Imam's family were also present at the dinner.

Tuesday, 8 July 2008

Leaders of the Jamat gather at the London Heliport as Mawlana Hazar Imam prepares to depart the United Kingdom. Photo: Gary Otte
Leaders of the Jamat gather at the London Heliport as Mawlana Hazar Imam prepares to depart the United Kingdom. Gary Otte

This morning, leaders of the UK Jamat gathered at the London Heliport to bid an emotional farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam. Departing London by helicopter, Hazar Imam concluded his Golden Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom.


Additional photographs are available in the photo gallery.