From noted war correspondent-turned filmmaker Greg Barker, a new documentary, Koran by Heart, which premiers August 1:

A new documentary follows three Muslim children as they travel to Egypt to compete in a tournament that requires young contestants to recite whole passages of the Quran, Islam’s 600-page holy book, from memory.

Each year during Ramadan — a Muslim holy month when believers fast, pray and read from the Quran — 100 students from more than 70 countries flock to Cairo for the International Holy Quran Competition….

“(The contest) is a window into the world that most non-Muslims or Westerners don’t see. It … puts a human face on the religion,” Barker said.

http://youtu.be/LCc2WQoJmiw

Read more about Barker’s new film here.