Finland’s national radio airs readings of complete Quran

Finnish-language broadcasts meant to improve knowledge of a religion shared by 60,000-strong minority

By AP 9 March 2015, 5:32 am

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Illustrative photo of a Muslim man reading the Quran during the holy month of Ramadan (photo credit: Atta Kenare/AFP)

HELSINKI — Finland’s state radio channel YLE is broadcasting readings of the entire Quran in Finnish to improve knowledge of Muslim culture in the Nordic country.

The 60 half-hour readings are accompanied by comments from the translator of the Islamic holy book and Imam Anas Hajjar of Finland’s Islamic Society.

The chairman of the organization, Mohammad Hussein Omar, on Sunday described the readings as a good way to help people understand the religion and Muslim customs better.

There are an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Muslims in Finland, which has an overall population of 5.5 million. The country has only one building constructed as a mosque, in the early 1940s. Other Muslim prayer rooms or mosques are former schools, cinemas or municipal halls.