TEHRAN -- The process of evaluation of the contestants in the preliminary stage of Iran’s 41st International Holy Qur’an Competition has begun.
 The members of the panel of judges, stationed at the Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization in Tehran, watch the files submitted by 350 contestants from 102 countries. 
They judge and score the recorded performances to select the top contenders for the finals.
The evaluation process will continue until Thursday, December 19.
Chaired by veteran Qur’an expert Behrouz Yaigol, the panel also includes Ali Akbar Malekshahi, Saeed Rahmani, Abbas Emamjome, and Amir Aghaei.
The final stage, which will be held in person, will be launched on January 27, 2025, in the holy city of Mashhad.
The contest has two categories for women: memorization of the entire Qur’an and Tarteel recitation, and three categories for men: recitation, memorization and Tarteel.
The International Holy Qur’an Competition of the Islamic Republic of Iran is annually organized by the country’s Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization.
It aims to promote the Qur’anic culture and values among Muslims and showcase the talents of Qur’an reciters and memorizers.