His Highness the Aga Khan on July 20 received one of Portugal’s highest honors – the Gra-cruz da ordem de Liberdade, or Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty – in recognition of his service to uplifting lives around the world, according to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa bestowed the Aga Khan with this honor during a ceremony held at Lisbon’s Belem Palace.
The Aga Khan was in Lisbon at the invitation of the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa to receive an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) for his longstanding commitment to improving the quality of life for some of the world’s vulnerable populations as well as for his efforts to promote respect for tolerance and pluralism.
This visit was the first official public event for the Aga Khan since the launch of his Diamond Jubilee year, which marked 60 years as Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community.
