On 7 July 2010 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Theerakun Niyom, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs presented, on behalf of the Foreign Minister, financial assistance of Baht 200,000 as well as the Foreign Minister’s winner trophies (for male and female champions) to the Muslim Association of Al-Quran Reader of Thailand under the Patronage of the Sheikhul Islam, to support the Association’s national Al-Quran reading competition. Imam Sanit Iamrit, the Association’s President, and Mr. Saman Kopitak, Secretary-General of the Association, accepted the contribution and the trophies on behalf of the competition organizers.
The national Al-Quran reading competition, which will be held in the Southern Province of Yala from the 10th to the 12th of July 2010, is part of the selecting process for able Thai Muslims to join the Thai national teams that will represent Thailand in international Quran reciting competitions aboard. Seminar on related academic topics will be held on this occasion as well.
In this regard, the Permanent Secretary stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to support to the Association’s activities, in order to provide more opportunities for Thai Quran readers to compete in international events. This is in line with the Thai Government’s policy to promote educational opportunity for Thai Muslim youths and the Government’s commitment to respect their cultural identities. It is the pride for all Thais, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, to know that Thai qari (male reciter), qariah (female reciter) and hafiz (memorizer of the Holy Quran) are held in high regards in international Islamic community.
The arts of reciting and memorizing the Holy Quran are considered to be highly sophisticated and fine arts in the Muslim world. In recognition of the Association’s role in promoting Thailand abroad in this field, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given continuous support to the Association. The fact that Thai Muslims can attain high international standard in this area is the clear evidence that the Thai society is an open, multicultural society wherein religious freedom is respected. With His Majesty the King as the Defender and patron of all Faiths in the country, Thais of various religions can live peacefully together and have complete right to follow their respective believes. In the past, the Thai qari and qariahs have participated in and won the championship and many other prizes from international tests, competitions and contests held in Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Sudan. Furthermore, distinguished Thai Muslim scholars have been invited to be members of the international panel of judges in international competition held in Malaysia every year.
On this occasion, the Permanent Secretary extended his best wishes to Thai qari team who will participate, with the sponsorship of the Ministry, in the international Quran recital contest, to be held during 8-18 July 2010 in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also expressed his hope that the Thai qari team would be able to win accolades to Thailand once again.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th