18th Qur'an recitation contest successfully held in Omurluköy
The 18th edition of the traditional Qur’an Recitation Contest, organized by the Mufti’s Office of Komotini, took place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Omurluköy, within the Kozlukebir Municipality. The competition, held at the Omurluköy Mosque, saw Kerem Hasan from the host village take first place with a score of 490.
The event began with an opening address by Deputy Mufti Fehim Ahmet, who expressed gratitude to all participants and organizers, and congratulated the families for their support of the students.
Emphasis on Religious Education
In his remarks, Komotini Mufti İbrahim Şerif underlined the importance of Qur’an education for the Muslim Turkish Minority in Western Thrace. “Living in a non-Muslim society, we must pass on our religious and cultural identity to the next generations,” Şerif said.
Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin praised all students, saying, “Each one is a winner in our hearts,” and hoped the next year’s contest would again be held in the same municipality.
Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat, attending the event, emphasized the strong sense of unity and dedication displayed by the community.
Visiting from Turkey, İpsala Mufti Ahmet Bayraktar also congratulated the participants and invited interested youth to the hafiz training program currently under construction in İpsala.
Competition Results:
Kerem Hasan – Omurluköy (490 pts)
Halime Hafız Hoca – Yassıköy (488 pts)
Fatma Mahmut Paşa – Hebilliköy (486 pts)
Ayşe Reyhan Hacıoğlu – Bağlar (483 pts)
Elif İsmail – Kozlukebir (470 pts)
Kerem Bekir – Kurcalı (444 pts)
Naz Molla Salih – Karakurcalı (423 pts)
Sefa Berbat – Kartunca (410 pts)
Notable attendees included Turkish Consul General Aykut Ünal, local political leaders, religious officials, and numerous community members, underscoring the importance of the event for the region’s cultural and spiritual life.
