Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-05-23

Kuwait’s Awqaf Ministry has announced plans to distribute 250,000 free copies of the Qur’an translated in different languages in Brazil during the FIFA World Cup, reaching out to a wide range of people for different cultures and backgrounds.

The Kuwaiti daily reported that the ministry’s Quran Board, known as Al-Qabas, will foresee the distribution of Qurans in Spanish, Portuguese, English and French at hotels, stadiums and various other public places.

The announcement however, raised concerns about FIFA regulations, banning the distribution of any religious pamphlets within five kilometers from the cities where the competition runs.

Earlier this month, it was announced that a special guide book has been published in Brazil for Muslim fans in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Titled “Salam (hello) Brazil”, the 32-page booklet has been published by the Union of Islamic Associations of Brazil in cooperation with the Omani embassy in the South American country.

Head of the Union Muhammad Hussein Al-Zuqbi said the book provides Muslim fans with addresses of Islamic centers, places of worship, Halal restaurants and entertainment centers whose activities are in accordance with Islamic Sharia laws.

He said it also contains a brief history of Islam’s presence in Brazil and the culture of Brazilian Muslims.

According to Al-Zuqbi, copies of “Salam Brazil” have been provided to airlines in Islamic and Arab countries to be distributed among Muslim passengers traveling to Brazil.

Hosted by Brazil for the second time, the FIFA World Cup football tournament would run from June 12 to July 13, 2014.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)