Special guest Iraq pavilion at Tehran Book Fair opened
Iraq Pavilion Inaugurated as Special Guest at Tehran International Book Fair
The Iraq pavilion,serving as the special guest of the Tehran International Book Fair,was inaugurated this Wednesday morning,May 7,with the presence of the culture ministers of Iran and Iraq.
According to a Mehr News Agency reporter, the 36th Tehran International Book Fair opened this morning under the slogan “Read for Iran,” attended by Ahmad Fakak Al-Badrani, Iraq’s Minister of Culture and Tourism; Abdulwahhab Al-Radi, Head of the Iraqi Publishers Union; Seyed abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance; and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament.
Global Libraries Draw from Eastern Writings
In his opening speech, Iraqi Culture Minister ahmad Fakak Al-Badrani stated: “Writers do not die—they remain humanity’s awakened conscience. They wrote with thought and intellect for nations. Without writers, the world would perish; we would live in illusions while the wealthy grew isolated. Writers established honorable living and taught humanity how to coexist peacefully.”
He added: “Book fairs should focus not just on books but on authors’ ideas. Writers live through their works—we converse with them by reading their words. Masterpieces like those of Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Shams Tabrizi, and Rumi were penned in the East yet are taught in Western universities today. Global libraries benefit from Eastern contributions.”
Concluding his remarks, he thanked Iranian officials and emphasized that publishers are “not mere merchants but conveyors of thought to societies.”
Iraq Pavilion Opens at Tehran Book Fair
Coinciding with the fair’s inauguration,Iraq’s pavilion was unveiled as this year’s special guest by Iranian Minister Seyed Abbas Salehi alongside Iraqi officials. Fifteen publishers from Iraq’s Publishers Union are participating in this edition.
Abdulwahhab Al-Radi expressed pride in Iraq’s role as guest nation: “This fair strengthens cultural ties between Iran and Iraq.” The pavilion is located on a mezzanine level within Shabestan Hall.
Deep past Ties Between Iran & Iraq
Minister Al-Badrani highlighted shared heritage between both nations: “From customs to ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia—where humanity learned writing—our roots intertwine geographically and historically.” He praised Tehran’s book fair scale as unsurprising given regional Arab participation while noting its role in fostering peaceful coexistence ideals championed by thinkers across history.
In closing remarks acknowledging Iranian hospitality toward its neighborly ties with Baghdad he saeid: “We take great pride being honored guests here.”
