World’s Quran reciters and memorizers gather in Tehran

TEHRAN,June 19(MNA) -- The 29th International Quran Competition opened at Tehran’s Milad Tower on Sunday with a large number of world’s Quran reciters and memorizers attending the event. Over 40 memorizers and 50 reciters from about 70 Islamic and non-Islamic countries are among the competitors this year, Iran’s State Endowment and Charity Affairs Organization Director Hojjatoleslam Ali Mohammadi said at the opening ceremony on Sunday. A jury panel of 14 selected from Egypt, Malaysia, Algeria, Indonesia, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Iran will be judging the event, he added. Egyptian master Quran reciter Ahmed Naina is among the jury members for this year’s competition, while Iranian members include Abbas Emam-Jome, Mohammad-Hossein Saeidian, Mohammad Derayati and Abdorrasul Abaii. Top Iranian winners of previous editions Hossein Motamedi and Qasem Moqadami are also seen among the competitors, he added. Paying tribute to females active in the Quranic fields as well as visiting religious locations in Tehran have also been arranged on the sidelines of the competition. A seminar on Quranic research is scheduled to be held on June 21. Also included is an exhibition offering Quranic productions on the sidelines of the competition. Chairman of the Leader’s office, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani also gave a brief speech at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was brought to an end with a Quran recitation delivered by Ahmed Naina.