125 participants from 70 countries 'gathered for the love of the Holy Quran'

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah poses after receiving an artwork presented to him as a memento

KUWAIT: The closing ceremony of the Kuwait international Quran contest was held in Bayan Palace yesterday, with the attendance and patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Upon arrival, His Highness Sheikh Sabah was received by Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri and members of the contest's committee.

The ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, head of the Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court Justice Yousef Al-Mutawa'a, Acting National Assembly Speaker Essa Al-Kandari, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and senior military officials.

In a speech at the event, head of the contest's judging panel Mohammad Mandakar thanked His Highness the Amir for patronizing the competition.  He noted that Al-Sabah ruling family had always supported spreading the teaching of Islam and Quran memorization throughout the years.  Meanwhile, Minister Jabri said the contest brought together 125 participants from 70 countries, gathering for the love of the Holy Quran. He added that the competition saw a large media coverage with about five million viewers and another 14 million followers on the internet. - KUNA