RIYADH: Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Saleh Al-Sheikh has approved the participation of the ministry in five international Qur’anic competitions during the holy month of Ramadan.

The competitions will be held in Dubai, Turkey, Algeria, Jordan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Dr. Mansour bin Mohammad Al-Simaih, according to secretary general of domestic and international competition.

Minister Al-Sheikh said the candidates will be selected from nominees of the General Secretariat of the Holy Qur’an Competition who meet the conditions and controls set by the regulators for the competition.

“It’s a great honor for the Kingdom to be represented in international Qur’an competitions,” said Al-Sheikh, who is also the general supervisor of the Holy Qur’an Competition.

Turki bin Miqrin Al-Abd Al-Munim has been nominated to participate in the Dubai International Award for Qur’an Competition.

Sheikh Mohammed Makki Hidayatullah Abdultwab will serve as a member of the jury of the International Holy Qura’n Recitation and Perfect Reading in Turkey. Salim bin Abdullah Bafaraj and Mohamed Awad Rashidi have also been nominated for the competition in Turkey as competitors.

Moreover, Abdulaziz Rashidi has been nominated to participate in Algeria by memorizing and reciting the holy Qur’an, while Abdulhakim Al-Harbi has been nominated to participate in the international competition for memorizing and interpreting the holy Qur’an in Jordan.

Sheikh Yusuf bin Saeed Al Dosari has also been nominated to participate in the holy Qur’an recitation program in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dr. Samih said that the Islamic Affairs Ministry is keen on the participation of a distinguished group of experts to represent Saudi Arabia in international forums where other Islamic countries are also participants.

He said, “this is in addition to the participation of an elite group of specialists in the work of the Global Qur’anic Arbitration on Qur’an reading competitions.”

He said that participation in Qur’an contests abroad as well as being involved as part of a group to select the winners is an honor for the Kingdom and recognition of the capabilities of Saudis.