Iran’s Int’l Quran Contest: 16 Foreign Quran Experts to Serve in Panel of Judges
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Head of the Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization, the organizer of the event, noted that the competition will kick off in the capital Tehran on Wednesday, April 19.
Hojat-ol-Islam Ali Mohammadi said simultaneous with this year’s contest, four other international Quran competitions- for school students, seminary students, women and visually-impaired- will be held in the country.
A total of 276 contestants from 83 countries will take part in the competitions, he added.
According to the official, the panel of judges of the 34th contest will comprise of 40 Quran experts, including 24 Iranians and 16 from other countries.
He said the motto of this year’s event is "One Book, One Ummah” and promoting Islamic unity is a major objective of the competition.
Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammadi also noted that an international Quranic research conference is planned to be held in the holy city of Qom, 150 km south of Tehran, concurrently with the competition.
Over 420 papers, including 65 by foreign scholars, have been submitted to the secretariat of the conference, he noted.
The cleric added that "Quran and revolution” is the theme of the international scholarly event.
Asked about participation of Egyptian Quran activists in this year’s competitions in Iran, despite Egypt’s refusal to invite Iranian Qaris and memorizers to its recently-held international Quran contest, Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammadi said Iran has invited both contestants and Quran experts from Egypt.
