Love for books draws visitors to the 16th Irbil International Book Fair

(25 Apr 2024)
IRAQ BOOK FAIR

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 2:42

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Irbil, Iraq - 18 April 2024
1. Various of visitors at book fair in Irbil
2. Books on shelves
3. Various of visitors checking and buying books
4. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Karim Ghalib, visitor from Kirkuk:
"Although PDF (online) books are widespread now and there are electronic books on mobile and iPad, in my opinion regular (physical) books are nicer to read - in terms of the writing itself and page viewing. I mean, it (a book) gives you a better feeling than reading from a mobile phone."

5. Visitors
6. Sign reading (Arabic): "Iran"
7. Visitors checking books at Iran section
8. Books on Kurdish history and poetry at Iran section
9. Visitors buying books
10. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Mohammed Mahmoodi, Kurdistan Intisharat publishing house in Iran:
"Well, the book situation is good somehow, considering the current economic situation and the lack of money, which have impacted the market. However, there are less books printed now. Before, we would print 1,000 or 2,000 copies of a book. Now, we print 100, 200, and a maximum 500 (copies)."

11. Various of visitors at book fair
12. Books on display on shelves
13. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Rakib Mahmoud, journalist from Dohuk:
"As everything gets an update, exhibitions are the update for books. They show the new books as well as funding in a year. Technology is developing and people have to follow up. And that is not just happening in the field of technology, but also in journalism and media, where we are seeing constant development. So if a person does not follow up and get a benefit out of it, their work will fall behind."

14. Book fair sign reading (Arabic/Kurdish): "Read, your intelligence is not artificial"
15. Various of people heading to the book fair
16. Irbil International Fair square
STORYLINE:
A love for learning and reading has drawn visitors to the 16th Irbil International Book Fair, held in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.

This year's fair featured books from over 300 publishing houses from 22 countries including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, France and Britain.

Karim Ghalib, a visitor from Kirkuk, said even though he can access books online, he still prefers to hold a book in his hands while reading.

"Books are nicer to read - in terms of the writing itself and page viewing. I mean, it (a book) gives you a better feeling than reading from a mobile phone," he said.

Alluding to the prevalent use of smart phones and technology in all aspects of life, organizers this year gave the book fair the title: "Read, your intelligence is not artificial."

The book fair comes as Israel's war in the Gaza Strip has raised the temperature on tensions across the Middle East.

Iranian publishers however brought their diverse collections of books to the event, leaving all the tensions behind and focusing on the love for reading instead.

Israel has long considered Iran to be its greatest enemy — citing the Islamic Republic’s calls for Israel’s destruction, its controversial nuclear program and its support for hostile proxies across the Middle East.

These tensions have risen since Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Iranian-backed Palestinian groups, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, sparking a devastating Israeli offensive in Gaza that has continued for more than six months.

Nonetheless, Iranian came to the book fair with more than 600 book titles on Kurdish history and poetry, among other areas.
The book fair started on April 17 and is running until April 27.
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