11000 Inmates Learning Quran by Heart

Some 11,000 prisoners in Iran are learning the Quran by heart, an official said.

Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Mohsen Rabbani, head of the Cultural, Arts and Quranic Affairs Department of the country's Prisons Organization, said they memorize different amounts ranging from one Juz (section) of the Holy Book to the entire Quran.
He said in a bid to encourage prisoners to learn the Holy Quran in prison, memorizing the Quran will be effective in granting clemency to inmates, IRNA reported.
Rabbani noted that 250 Dar-ol-Quran centers are active in the country's prisons, holding educational Quranic programs on Tajweed, reading, interpretation, etc.
He went on to say that this year's Quran memorization and recitation competition for inmates will be held regionally with the provinces of Semnan, Markazi, Hamedan, and Kohkyluyeh Boyerahmad  hosting the contest in each of the four specified regions.