Sponsors of the newly established Russian literature award Islamic Breakthrough said that the prize was meant to raise the general public`s interest in Islamic culture.

"The aim is to arouse the Russian public`s interest in the spiritual life and culture of Islam for the sake of mutual understanding, peace and progress," said Aslam Ezhayev, director of the Umma publishing house, which sponsors the award along with the Muftis Board and the Federal Press & Mass Communications Agency.

The award will honor living authors of Russian fiction and non-fiction works exploring topics related to Islam. Competition will be in three categories - prose, poetry and essay - and the winners will be awarded cash and material prizes.

Entries for this year are being accepted until February 1, 2006 and the award ceremony will be held next March as part of the national book fair Books of Russia.

The three authors who won last year`s pilot Islamic Breakthrough awards were all non-Muslims.
sections: Society, Region News
areas: Central region