Aga Khan's interview in Der Spiegel

We are writing about Shia and Sunni Muslims. But we nearly never write about other Muslims. But there are others.

Searching in Internet, I have found an interview with Aga Khan, the head of the Islaimi Muslims, in the German Der Spiegel. This man, who is more known in Spain because of the Hola! reports, was interviewed about Pope Benedict's words.

In the same page you have a brief summary of what it takes to be an Ismaili Muslim:

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV is considered to be the direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad and, as the 49th imam, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims. A minority community within the Muslim faith, the Ismailis include some 20 million members scattered across 25 countries in Central Asia, Europe and Eastern Africa. The Aga Khan himself lives near Paris in Aiglemont Palace. Born near Geneva, the prince grew up in Kenya, Switzerland and London before being educated at Harvard. At the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather as the Aga Khan, thus becoming a religious leader and the administrator of billions in assets. Fed by his family inheritance and a 10 percent tithing fee from Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan channels much of the money into the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the world's most important private development aid organizations. The Aga Khan has two sons from his first marriage --Rahim, 34, and Hussein, 32. He also has a son from his second marriage to the German princess Gabriele zu Leiningen --six-year-old Ali Mohammed. The Aga Khan must name one of his sons as his successor, but that choice will remain a secret until his death.

In Wikipedia we have a summary of what he does:

At his Aiglemont estate, at Gouvieux in the Picardie region of France, about 4 kilometres west of the Hippodrome de Chantilly in Chantilly, France, he operates the largest horse racing and breeding operation in the country. In 1977, he paid £1.3 million for the bloodstock owned by Anna Dupré and in 1978, £4.7 million for the bloodstock of late Marcel Boussac.

In March of 2005, the Āgā Khān purchased the famous Haras d'Ouilly in Pont-d'Ouilly, Calvados that had been owned by such famous horsemen as the Duc Decazes, François Dupré and Jean-Luc Lagardère. In 2006, he became the majoity shareholder of Arqana, a French horse auction house.

After some background, the interview itself. I am going to copy some parts of it:

[...] SPIEGEL: Does Islam have a problem with reason?

Aga Khan: Not at all. Indeed, I would say the contrary. Of the Abrahamic faiths, Islam is probably the one that places the greatest emphasis on knowledge. The purpose is to understand God's creation, and therefore it is a faith which is eminently logical. Islam is a faith of reason. [NOTE: He does not even consider the education Muslim countries are giving their children. I do not think that learning by heart the Koram, as they do in most madrassas, is the best way to increase one child's knowledge].

SPIEGEL: So, what are the root causes of terrorism?

Aga Khan: Unsolved political conflicts, frustration and, above all, ignorance. Nothing that was born out of a theological conflict. [NOTE: this is the same reasons that punk jihadis -as Pamela calls them- say when they are asked about their behaviour in Paris]

SPIEGEL: Which political conflicts do you mean?

Aga Khan: The ones in the Middle East and in Kashmir, for example. These conflicts have remained unresolved for decades. There is a lack of urgency in understanding that the situation there deteriorates, it's like a cancer. If you are not going to act on a cancer early enough, ultimately it's going to create terrible damage. It can become a breeding ground for terrorism.

Now to the issue of spreading faith by the sword: All faiths at some time in their history have used war to protect themselves or expand their influence, and there were situations when faiths have been used as justifications for military actions. But Islam does not call for that, it is a faith of peace. [Jihad is a peaceful concept: after all Infidels are dead, peace be upon Earth].

SPIEGEL: It's true that horrible crimes were committed in the name of Christianity, for example by the crusaders. That was long ago, that's the past. But jihadists commit their crimes now, in our times.

Aga Khan: It is not so far in the past that we have seen bloody fights in the Christian world. Look at Northern Ireland. If we Muslims interpreted what happened there as a correct expression of Protestantism and Catholicism or even as the essence of the Christian faith you would simply say we don't know what we are talking about. [NOTE: really, when Protestant and Catholic argue because of land or political reasons, they are reading the Bible. Mr Khan, just tell me what part of the Bible tells me to argue with a Protestant, because I do not really know it. Oh, no, you're so cultivated, just know that these quarrels have no basis in religion].

SPIEGEL: "The West (will stand) against the Rest" wrote Professor Samuel Huntington in his famous book "Clash of Civilizations." Is such a conflict, such a clash inevitable?

Aga Khan: I prefer to talk about a clash of ignorance. There is so much horrible, damaging, dangerous ignorance.

SPIEGEL: Which side is responsible?

Aga Khan: Both. But essentially the Western world. You would think that an educated person in the 21st century should know something about Islam; but you look at education in the Western world and you see that Islamic civilizations have been absent. What is taught about Islam? As far as I know -- nothing. What was known about Shiism before the Iranian revolution? What was known about the radical Sunni Wahhabism before the rise of the Taliban? We need a big educational effort to overcome this. Rather than shouting at each other, we should be learning to listen to each other. In the way we used to do it, by working together, with mutual give-and-take. Together we brought about some of the highest achievements of human civilization. There is a lot to build on. But I think you cannot build on ignorance. [NOTE: Any dictator in the Middle East is necessary for peace, but the West, you ignorant infidels, you are the culprits of all the bad things in the world. Because you can study Science, Music, Mathematics, Law, Telecommunications, Economy, etc, but if you do not study Islam, then you are an ignorant and your ignorance is the culprit of jihadis, dictatorships, Bin Laden, Ahmadinejihad, the hunger in the world, the car accidents, the bad nourihsment in the Paleolithic age and of course, of the disparition of the dinasours...]

SPIEGEL: Nonethless, it is striking that a particularly large number of Muslim-dominated states figure among the most backward and undemocratic states in the world. Is Islam in need of an era of enlightment? Is the faith even incompatible with democracy as others claim?

Aga Khan: As I said before, one has to be fair. Some of the political leaders have inherited problems that are in no way attributable to the faith. New governance solutions have to be tested and validated over time. Nor do I believe Muslim states are systematically economic underperformers. Some of the fastest growing economies and some of the most successful newly industrialized countries are in the Islamic world. Now concerning democracy: My democratic beliefs do not go back to the Greek or French (thinkers) but to an era 1,400 years ago. These are the principles underlying my religion. During the prophet's life (peace be upon him), there was a systematic consultative political process. And the first imam of the Shiites, Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali, emphasized: "No honor is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation." [NOTE: Pericles, Locke, Montequieu, et al did not found democracy as we know it: it was Muhammad. You infidels, so ignorant, how on earth could you even think of inventing democracy.

Democracy in the Middle East? Oh, but that is because of the inherited problems, .... from Western societies, of course].

[...] SPIEGEL: Not many are functioning democracies.

Aga Khan: People speak about failed states. I do not think that states can fail, but democracies certainly can. The failure of democracy is not specific to the Islamic world. Indeed, about two years ago, the United Nations carried out an in-depth analysis of democracy in South America. About 55 percent of the population in South American states said that they would prefer to live under a paternalistic dictatorship instead of an incompetent or corrupt democracy that is not improving their living condition. [NOTE: firstly, there are some of them who have stablished democracies which function really well, as Chile, Brazil or Mexico -yes, Mexico is better than Morocco. The frontier with the most different way of live/religion/expenditure... is Spanish-Morocan one].

Secondly, they are speaking about a paternalistic dictatorship, not the same as in Iran (that is the result of an honour killing), for example.

And thirdly, there are Moroccan people coming to Spain saying that Spain is a Monarchy as Morocco, where a Monarch administers as he wants the happiness and the sufferings of his subjects. If Moroccans think like that, what would someone from other countries more underdeveloped than theirs? What would be the results of that analysis in Muslim countries?

Lastly, how many South Americans have come to other countries to kill people because of frustration/political problems/ignorance -accepting that is the reason-? How many they have killed in their countries by the same reasons? Is there any kind of ideal about conquering the world/killing all people that are not South Americans? Eeeh, let me think... NO. Yes, there have been South-American terrorists but were they supported by the population?]

He also does a large exposition about Iraqi war that finishes with:

SPIEGEL: In your opinion, was it pure ignorance and naivete that made the Bush government start the war? Was it really about introducing democracy or a strategic decision about conquering oil fields and military bases?

Aga Khan: I wish I could answer that question.

I'm normally very moderate about my comments on Islam. But this kind of stupid politically correct comments, just make me wonder. He is soooooooo cultivated, and yet he thinks the non-Muslims are idiot/stupid?

Gossip news: Aga Khan IV is the grandson of Aga Khan III, who was the founder of the Muslim League and the 48th Imam of the Sect of the Shia Ismaili. The son of Aga Khan III -and father of Aga Khan IV- was Prince Ali Khan, who married Rita Hayworth.  Yes, the actress. [NOTE: Rita Hayworth is not his mother]

Also posted at AJP.