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Spine-Tingling Competition Heats Up in Jakarta
Jakarta hosts international Koran reading contest
Participants from 45 countries are expected to compete in an international Koran reading contest from Saturday through until Monday next week, the first competition since the event was recently declared two-yearly.
| Be still, my beating heart! |
Spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs Arifin Nurdin said on Thursday Indonesia was named the host of the inaugural biennial competition for its achievement in a number of international Koran reading contests in the past. "We have won numerous international Koran recital competitions, but have never played host to such an event, despite the fact that Indonesia is the country in the world with the largest Muslim population. Even the Philippines managed to host one," Arifin said. He said the government expected to promote Islam as a champion of peace⢠through the competition, which will be held at Jakartaâs Istiqlal Grand Mosque.
âGuess they read a different Koran than the boomers
"We are keen to show the world that Islam is bloodthirsty, intolerant, and homicidal warmhearted, relieving and peaceful," said Arifin, also the ringleader spokesman for the eventâs organizing committee.
| "That's why we have to kill so few people for converting to other religions..." |
Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Husin Almunawar had said previously the international event should demonstrate that Indonesia was safe despite a series of terrorist attacks in the country over the past year.
Well, if Jakarta is peaceful, then I guess we could hold a bible-reading or torah-reading competition there as well - eh Sai-id?
| And don't even forget the Kama Sutra readings... |
Arifin said 25 countries from five continents
what - no asshats from Antartica?
had confirmed their participation in the event, which will shave Rp 2.5 billion (US$294,000) off the state budget. All participants and delegations will stay at Borobudur Hotel in Central Jakarta, located near the Istiqlal Mosque.
I guess the J.W. Marriottt is still undergoing "rennovation"
| Hey! Borobudur's one of the most famous Hindu temples outside of India. Shouldn't they be staying at the al-Hayatt? |
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to open the event and Vice President Hamzah Haz is slated to close it.
Participants will be divided into two gender categories
"Master" and "Slave"?
plus an English translation category. Indonesia will be represented by winners of this yearâs national Koran reading competition. The chairman of the eventâs organizing committee, Taufiq Kamil, said the winner of each division would receive US$3,000 in cash, with second place receiving $2,000 and third $1,000.
Posted by: Lone Ranger 2003-12-05 |
