KHUJAND, August 20, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A two-day Koran recitation contest concluded at the main Sughd mosque, Shaikh Muslihiddin Mosque, in Khujand on August 19.  

The contest jury head Fakhriddin Najmiddinov said that the contest had been held at the initiative of Sughd’s branch of Shuroi Ulamo (Tajikistan’s Council of Religious Scholars). 

“The Sughd authorities have supported this initiative,” said Najmiddinov, “Members of political parties were not admitted to the contest, while young people were encouraged to participate in the contest.”  

More than 100 people aged 5 to 30 took part in the contest and some 70 percent of them where children under age of 10, according to the jury head.      

The 8-year-old Muhamamdayub from the Asht district also took part in the contest.  Despite his age, Muhamamdayub is a well-known Koran reciter in the province and has already traveled to many Arabic countries.  According to Muhammadayub’s teacher, Muhammadsaid Sharifzoda, Muhamamdayub memorized Koran in only three years.