Mecca Int'l Quran Contest to Begin Today
The holy city of Mecca is hosting the 43rd edition of the International King Abdulaziz Competition for the Holy Quran, an event that tests the contestants' skills in memorising, reciting and interpreting the Muslim holy book.
The competition, which starts today, will run for 11 days at the Grand Mosque, the holiest site in Islam.
The event is organised by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, and named after the late founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz.
The competition has attracted 166 contestants and 50 escorts from 117 countries, according to the ministry's supervisor-general Abdelatif Al Alsheikh.
He added that the total value of the prizes has increased to more than $1 million this year, with the top winner to receive $133,000. The ministry has been holding the annual competition since 1979.
Source: Agencies
