Two contestants from Iran and Turkey have completed the list of semi-finalists for the international Holy Quran and call to prayer competition, Otr Elkalam (Scent of Speech), bringing the total number of contestants participating in the penultimate stage of the competition to 12 contestants: 6 in the recitation category and 6 others in the call to prayer category.
The Iranian reciter, Seyed Jassem Mousavi, was the last to qualify in the recitation category for the semi-finals after the loss of his Libyan counterpart, Issam Abdul Hafeez Al-Rubai. The Turkish contestant Albijan Celik Gleik was the last of the muezzins to join the list of semi-finalists after eliminating his competitor Ibrahim Al-Zahrani.
In the semi-finals, 6 contestants from each category compete in each round, 4 of whom qualify for the final. Thus, the total number of contestants from both categories who reach the final is 8.
Otr Elkalam TV show is one of the initiatives of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. It is broadcast daily on the Saudia channel and Shahid platform at 5 pm, Riyadh time. It is widely viewed in different countries, as the competition hosts contestants of different nationalities.