TEHRAN-Iran has participated in the 25th Baghdad International Book Fair in Iraq, which was inaugurated on Thursday.

Iran Book and Literature House represents Iran at the event, showcasing 1,500 titles on various subjects including Islamic studies, literature, children's books, Persian education, academic books, resistance, and Sacred Defense, as well as martyrs Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. There is also a special section dedicated to the Holy Quran.

In addition, 23 Iranian publishers and cultural institutions are also taking part in the book fair, presenting their publications, Honaronline reported.

One of the Iranian participants is the Publications of the World Assembly of AhlulBayt (PBUT).  According to the General Director of Cultural Services of the PBUT Mostafa Behbahanipour, the publications is present at the event and seeks to exchange opinions and expand communication and interactions with Iraqi and Arab world publishers.

“The presentation of 64 book titles of the Assembly, the introduction of the Nabaa application in several languages, the identification and follow-up of electronic publishing capacities in the Arab world and Iraq are among the other goals of attending the exhibition,” he added.

Behbahanipour further pointed out that the presence of the PBUT along with various publishers from the countries of the Arab world, especially the countries of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, will provide a great opportunity to establish communication and interactions to open new horizons of cooperation for the publishers present in the exhibition.

This is the fourth time Iran has attended the event. A memorandum of cooperation between the Tehran International Book Fair and the Baghdad International Book Fair is planned to be signed on the sidelines of the exhibition.

The fair's organizer, Sada Al-Aref Company, has brought together 600 publishers from 21 countries, including Arab and foreign nations, as well as writers and intellectuals from Iraq, the Arab world, and beyond. The event features seminars, as well as art exhibitions and play readings.

With the motto of “Iraq Reads”, the exhibition serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and fostering cultural ties between Iraq and other nations.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Iraqi Deputy Minister of Trade Sattar Al-Jabiri emphasized the importance of book fairs as spaces for connection between authors, readers, and the broader cultural community.

He noted that the Ministry of Trade is committed to supporting cultural industries, including writing and publishing, as a key driver of Iraq's socio-economic development.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Education Ibrahim Namis Al-Jubouri confirmed that the opening of the 25th Baghdad International Book Fair is evidence of Iraq's stability and an occasion to support paper reading in the cultural scene after electronic books have dominated. “After this book fair, there will be a similar exhibition in Erbil, Mosul, Najaf, and Basra,” he added.

Abdul-Wahab Al-Radi, head of the Baghdad International Book Fair, said the event aims to make Baghdad a beacon of knowledge and culture, just as it was in the past. He noted that the fair has been held for 24 years, despite various challenges, including wars, sanctions, and terrorism.

The book fair in Baghdad will run through September 23.

SS/SAB