The Aga Khan, the leader of the Ismaili Muslims, the head of a prominent development aid foundation, and a well-known supporter of Irish racing, has passed away at the age of 88, as announced by his foundation.
He was the founder and president of the Aga Khan Development Network, employing 96,000 individuals and funding development initiatives, particularly across Asia and Africa.
He was also the owner of Shergar, the Derby-winning racehorse who was taken from his stud farm in Co Kildare in 1983 and has not been seen since.
Shergar won the Derby at Epsom by 10 lengths in June 1981
Shergar was celebrated in the racing community for his remarkable victory at Epsom under the teenage jockey Walter Swinburn. To this day, his winning margin of 10 lengths remains a record for a race that first took place in 1780.
He was syndicated for breeding duties and taken to Ballymany Stud.
When Shergar was abducted, those involved seemingly did not realize that the Aga Khan was no longer the sole owner of the horse, and the demands for a substantial ransom went unanswered.
The Aga Khan was a prominent supporter of Irish racing and played a vital role in the redevelopment of the Curragh.
The Aga Khan Trophy is a prestigious event on the Irish showjumping circuit, held during the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS each summer. This trophy was donated by the Aga Khan’s father, a frequent visitor, in 1926.
Horses Racing Ireland CEO Suzanne Eade remarked that the Aga Khan was an “iconic figure in the global racing industry”.
She noted that he had made an impact in numerous countries, with Ireland “playing a significant role in his family’s esteemed operation for over a century”.
Read More: The Aga Khan and the mystery of mighty colt Shergar
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres referred to the Aga Khan as “a symbol of peace, tolerance, and compassion in our troubled world” after the religious leader’s passing.
Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace laureate and education advocate, stated that his legacy will “endure through the remarkable work he led in education, health, and development worldwide”.
Islam ‘religion of peace’
Born in Geneva, the Aga Khan spent his early years in Kenya and was appointed in Tanzania to succeed his grandfather in 1957.
His father was overlooked in the line of succession after a tumultuous marriage to American actress Rita Hayworth.
A billionaire owner of yachts and jets, the Aga Khan was a familiar face at the racetrack, continuing the family tradition of thoroughbred breeding.
He also invested a significant portion of his inherited wealth into philanthropic endeavors and was granted honorary Canadian citizenship for his contributions to development and “tolerance around the globe”.
The Aga Khan also held British and Portuguese citizenship. The leadership of the Ismaili community is based in Lisbon, where a notable community exists.
Despite his position as the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, he was hesitant to address conflicts in the Middle East, religious extremism, or Sunni-Shia divisions.
Islam is not a faith “of conflict or social disorder; it’s a religion of peace,” he stated to AFP in 2017.
It is often applied to situations that are “largely political, yet framed under various theological justifications. This is simply inaccurate,” he added.
