Reciter, Memorizer Back in Iran after Winning Top Titles in Croatia Quran Contest
Esfidani bagged the top prize in the competition’s recitation category while Khakpoor came second in memorization of the entire Quran.
They arrived at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini (RA) Airport early on Monday and were received by Hojat-ol-Islam Mesgari, an official with the Quranic Affairs Center of the Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization.
The contest began in the Islamic Center of Zagreb on Thursday and wrapped up in a ceremony on Saturday night where winners of the two categories, recitation and memorization of the Quran, were announced and awarded.
A total of 70 Quran memorizers and reciters from 46 countries took part in the competition.
Quran experts from Croatia, France, Qatar, Turkey, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were members of the judges panel.
Croatia’s top Islamic body, the Islamic Affairs Department, organizes the contest annually.
Croatia is an Eastern European country with a population of around five million.
Islam is the second-largest faith in Croatia after Christianity. The religion is followed by 1.47% of the country's population according to the 2011 census, compared to 91.06% Christians.
Most Commented 