Ismaili Shiite Muslims from Mozambique to arrive in Lisbon for the Aga Khan jubilee soon

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Ismaili Shiite Muslims from Mozambique to arrive in Lisbon for the Aga Khan jubilee soon

2:42 CAT | 15 Jun 2018

in file CoM

In 2015, Prince Aga Khan declared Lisbon his choice for the world headquarters of his Foundation, and now young Shiite Muslims mostly from Mozambique are pouring into Portugal’s capital to support the prince’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Foundation has asked the Portuguese military to help accommodate them, and, from early July, military units in Lisbon, Queluz and Paço de Arcos will welcome almost 300 Muslims from the Ismaili community, DN reported.

Different sources explained that the Army, in response to a request from the Aga Khan Foundation, agreed to accept these elements in the Anti-Artillery Regiment No. 1 (of the Intervention Brigade) in Queluz, in the Transport Regiment (Lisbon) and in the Unit of the Logistics Command (Paço de Arcos).

Muslim Shia Ismailis are moderate and have an important and long-established community in Portugal, but their reception in operational units has given rise to reservations in military circles, from the decision of a branch of the armed forces to welcome civilians in barracks to the implied costs and safety concerns.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vicente Pereira confirmed that the branch is “supporting” the Foundation and sent the DN to the Ismaili community institution.

Aga Khan celebrates 60th anniversary of the Ismailis

At the base of the decision is a request from the Aga Khan Foundation to find accommodation for the volunteers who, from July 5 to 11, will support approximately 40,000 people expected in Lisbon to participate in the Diamond Jubilee of Prince Aga Khan – 49th spiritual leader of the Ismailis and in office since 1957.

A source from the Imamat Ismaili (Ismaili Community), which in 2015 signed an agreement with Portugal to establish its world headquarters in Lisbon, explained to DN that the basis of the request made to the army to accommodate the volunteers “at a symbolic cost” is the lack of vacancies in hotels during that period, the high costs of places available, and the amount that these volunteers can afford.

In any case, the source said, there is still no agreement, and volunteers who have family in Lisbon can always dispense with going to the army units.

According to sources, the army offered more than a hundred places in Lisbon and more than 50 each in the Queluz and Paço de Arcos units.

In terms of costs to be charged to the Aga Khan Foundation, the army proposed a tariff about half that internally defined to support entities outside the institution: EUR 10 for an overnight stay and EUR 2.5 for breakfast.

According to one of the military sources, the branch decided to charge a daily fee of only EUR 5.50 plus a “reduced rate” of 6% (33 cents) per person.

Regarding security, the army requested lists of the names of the people to be received, each to have a photo identification card while inside the barracks, and the indication of one representative from each group as a contact with those in charge of military units.

However, perhaps due to the rise of the Islamic extremist threat in Mozambique, some sources have openly pondered just what degree of security assessment has been carried out into those being hosted and what security risk they pose.

Source: DN