Malaysia PM Honors Iranian Artists

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 1, IRNA - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak honored Iranian artists participating in the second International Islamic Arts and Cultural Festival (PIIACUF) in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The 2014 PIIACUF was inaugurated Friday night in Putrajaya. Some 20 Iranian artists are showcasing their works in diverse fields such as calligraphy, painting, miniature, music and Iranian cuisine. The festival’s opening ceremony was attended by artists of Islamic countries as well as Iran's cultural attaché in Malaysia, Ali Akbar Sabaei. Delivering a speech at the event, Prime Minister Razak noted that Islam should be introduced as a religion of peace and beauty instead of as a source for terrorism and enmity. “Unfortunately, some terrorists and extremists misuse the religion which leads to Islamophobia. That is not Islam. Islam is a religion of light, peace and social justice”, he added. Najib Razak said that the PIIACUF is being held in Malaysia’s political city Putrajaya to present the city as a center of Islamic arts. The festival’s opening ceremony was also attended by Malaysia’s Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat. The second International Islamic Arts and Cultural Festival will wrap up on November 2. “The Putrajaya International Islamic Arts and Cultural Festival (PIIACUF) aims at pioneering the values of Islam through the perspective of a moderate society where arts and culture takes the center stage in delivering the messages of Islam to the world,” according to the festival’s website./end