BAGHDAD, Dec 14 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, hosts the 47th session of the Baghdad International Book Fair with strict measures, to protect visitors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 11-day exhibition kicked off on Dec 9, with participation of more than 300 publishers from 21 countries, bringing around one million books.
Ahmed Khazal, member of the exhibition organising committee, said, the exhibition hosts dozens of artistic, cultural, and media events, including folk dancing, singing, and poetry, in addition to seminars.
As the exhibition attracted a large number of Iraqis, the organisers imposed several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – providing masks at entrances, and urging visitors to maintain social distancing.
In an attempt to reflect the spirit of the traditional al-Mutanabi Street — the historic centre of Baghdad’s bookselling industry, the organisers made the street between the fair’s five main halls as an outdoor market for al-Mutanabi’s bookstores with Iraqi coffee and tea.
“Bookshop owners of the original al-Mutanabi Street display their books, covering scientific, literary and cultural fields,” Safaa al-Saadi, a bookshop owner, said.
The participation of Arab countries has a fundamental role in attracting visitors, especially researchers and students, according to al-Saadi.
Samir Ibrahim, an owner of an Egyptian publisher, said, “The organisation of the exhibition is good and we have a great demand for Egyptian books among the Iraqi public.” Egypt has been a constant participant in the Baghdad International Book Fair for years.
Although the fear of infection was a constant concern of the organisers, participants, and visitors, Ghassan Hussein, deputy of the Jordanian Publishers Union, said that the Iraqi organisers have taken good precautions.
“They paid attention to the health-protective measures to prevent infections despite the presence of a great number of visitors at the exhibition,” Hussein said.
Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, opened the book fair on Dec 9. “Culture is the basis for change in every society, and the book represents the main element in any process of cultural reform,” he said.
The 47th session of the Baghdad International Book Fair was scheduled to be held in Mar, but it was postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19.
As of Dec 12, the total number of infections in Iraq reached 573,622 cases, with 12,565 deaths, according to data from the Iraqi Ministry of Health.– NNN-NINA
