Civil societies are “the most powerful forces in our time” to change the world, the Aga Khan said on Thursday.
“Increasingly, I believe, the voices of civil society are voices for change, where change has been overdue. They have been voices of hope for people living in fear. They are voices that can help transform countries of crisis into countries of opportunity,” he said in a historic speech, the first by a Muslim non-head of state to the Canadian Parliament.
Only five individuals outside heads of state have been offered this privilege. The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.
“Faith should deepen our concern for our worldly habitat, for embracing its challenges, and for improving the quality of human life,” he said
The Aga Khan said an active civil society frees individuals’ energies and talents, facilitating diversity and tolerance in progressive societies.
“It means welcoming plurality,” he said in a speech that cited false alarms over presumed differences and potential clashes between Islamic beliefs and western values.
via Civil society most powerful force for social change, says Aga Khan – National – monitor.co.ug.
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