'Int’l Quran Expo An Opportunity for Muslim Countries to Come Together'
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili made the remark at a ceremony held at the Imam Khomeini (RA) Mosalla (prayer hall) here on Monday evening to inaugurate the international section of the exhibition’s 30th edition.
The ceremony was also attended by a number of officials from Muslim countries, including Mauritania’s Minister of Islamic Affairs and Original Education Dah Ould Sidi Ould Amar Taleb and Mohammed Hamid, Niger’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Crafts.
Esmaeili noted that Quranic activists and artists from 21 countries are taking part in the 30th edition of the exhibition.
He referred to the development of Quranic activities in Iran after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and said that today there are hundreds of thousands of Quran memorizers and many more individuals active in different Quranic fields in the country.
The Iranian Culture Minister also pointed to moves against the Quran and other Islamic sanctities in recent years and said steps are going to be taken at the exhibition with the aim of countering those moves and promoting the Quranic culture.
The Nigerien minister of culture, tourism and crafts in his address thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran’s officials for inviting him to the expo to boost unity between the two countries
“We are here to promote the Quranic culture, Islam and being Muslim,” he said, noting that Niger is a country in West Africa with a large number of Muslims.
Niger is proud of Islam and has the largest Islamic university in Africa, Mohammed Hamid said, noting that major steps have been taken in his country to develop the Islamic culture and spread spirituality.
The Mauritanian minister of Islamic affairs and original education also addressed the inauguration ceremony, thanking the Iranian officials for organizing the exhibition in the month of the Quran to promote the Holy Book and its teachings.
He also said inviting Mauritania to participate at the expo signifies the good and cordial ties between the two Muslim countries.
Artists and Quran activists from 21 countries, including Pakistan, Iraq, India, Russia, Tunisia, Algeria, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Kenya and Russia are taking part in the international section of the exhibition.
Quran translation, poetry and literature, civilization-making mosque, family and Quranic lifestyle, children, Quran-based consultations, grassroots Quranic institutes, Quranic education, promotion of the culture of Nahj al-Balagha, promotion of Sahifeh Sajjadiyeh, Quranic innovations, religious arts, and religious publications are among the expo’s other sections.
The event is annually organized by the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in the holy month of Ramadan, with the aim of promoting Quranic concepts and developing Quranic activities.
It showcases the latest Quranic achievements in the country as well as a variety of products dedicated to the promotion of the Holy Book.
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