, residue from the first nuclear bomb detonation, while visiting the
Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1959. Karim al-Husseini became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims in 1957 following the death of his
grandfather. Installation ceremonies were conducted at multiple locations between 1957 and 1958, during which he spoke about issues such as interethnic and interfaith relations. In 1972, the government of
Uganda, led by President
Idi Amin,
expelled people of South Asian origin, including many Nizari Ismailis, giving them 90 days to leave the country. Following this, Karim al-Husseini contacted Canadian Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau, which resulted in Canada accepting a significant number of displaced Ismailis. He also coordinated efforts to assist Ismailis displaced from
Tanzania,
Kenya, and
Myanmar with resettlement in other countries, primarily in Asia, Europe, and North America. Most of the initial resettlement problems were overcome rapidly by Nizari Ismailis due to their educational backgrounds and high rates of literacy, as well as the efforts of the host countries, along with support from Nizari Ismaili community programmes. Al-Husseini encouraged members of the Nizari Ismaili community in industrialised countries to support development initiatives in regions with significant Ismaili populations. Karim al-Husseini described the role of the Imam as involving both religious interpretation and attention to the social welfare of the community. He has emphasized the importance of engagement between Ismaili communities and the broader societies in which they live. He was among the Shia signatories of the 2004
Amman Message, which addressed the inclusion of various
denominations of Islam within the
Muslim community. During the
2006 controversy surrounding Pope Benedict XVI's lecture, Karim al-Husseini expressed concern over deteriorating interreligious relations and suggested the situation presented an opportunity for dialogue about religion and reason When he was asked about his view on the consumption of alcohol in a 1965 interview with
The Sunday Times, al-Husseini said, in line with Muslim teaching: Our belief is that the thing which separates man from the animals is his power of thought. Anything that impedes this process is wrong. Therefore, alcohol is forbidden. I have never touched alcohol. But this, to me, is not a puritan prohibition. I don't want to drink. I've never wanted to drink. There's no pressure being placed on me by my religion. In 2014, Karim al-Husseini became the first faith leader to address a joint session of the
Parliament of Canada. To mark the 25th anniversary of his Imamate from 1982 to 1983, several development projects were initiated, including the establishment of the $450 million
Aga Khan University with its Faculty of Health Sciences and teaching hospital based in Karachi, Pakistan, expansion of schools and healthcare facilities in the Hunza region of northern Pakistan, and the establishment of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Gujarat, India. The 50th anniversary of his Imamate was observed from 2007 to 2008, during which Karim al-Husseini made official visits to various countries and met with government officials to discuss ongoing and future initiatives. During this period, the Golden Jubilee Games, a sports event for Nizari Ismailis, was organized in Kenya and later continued in other locations. During his visit to
Houston in
Texas, he announced the establishment of the
Ismaili Center Houston. The 60th anniversary of his tenure was observed from 2017 to 2018, marked by various events including concerts and arts festivals. In 2018, the
Henrique de Mendonça Palace in Lisbon was designated as the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat.
Ismaili Constitution In 1986, al-Husseini promulgated a constitution for the Nizari Ismaili community, which was amended in 1998. The document outlines the governance structure and the role of the Imam within the community. ==Business activities==