Egyptian Quran reciter lectures Cairo for not inviting Iran to Quran contest

Rasa – Prominent Egyptian Quran reciter Shaykh al-Tantawi criticized his country’s Ministry of Endowments for not inviting Iran to Egypt’s international Quran competition.

News ID: 4163

Date: 13 April 2016 - 16:52

RNA – “We and Iranian Quran reciters are Muslims and they are our brothers,” Shaykh Muhammad Abdul-Wahhab al-Tantawi told Iran’s IQNA news agency.

“I really don’t see a justified reason why the Ministry of Endowments, which is in charge of the contest, has not invited Iranian Quran reciters to take part in the competition.”

Shaykh al-Tantawi noted that Iran has always invited Egyptian Quran activists and masters to its international Quranic events regardless of political issues.

“I, myself, have attended several editions of Iran’s international Quran competition as a member of the panel of judges,” he said.

The senior Quran reciter went on to say that Quran competitions belong to all Muslims and bring together the devotees of the Quran from all over the world.

The 23rd edition of the international Quran competition of Egypt kicked off in the coastal town of Sharm al-Shaykh in South Sinai governorate on Sunday, April 10.

It is being held under the supervision of Egyptian President Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi with the participation of 160 Quran reciters and memorizers from over 60 countries.

Egypt’s Ministry of Endowments like last year excluded Iran, Turkey and Qatar from the competition for political reasons.

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