Some 650 publishing houses from 23 countries descended on Baghdad for this year’s International Book Fair.
Set at the international fair grounds, it is an opportunity for thousands of Iraqis of various ages and groups to enrich their knowledge and culture as they leaf through the thousands of books with a variety of titles and subjects. The 10-day fair is also a forum for a number of prominent Iraq, Arab and international writers to sign their latest books and participate in discussions and critical sessions.
Baghdad is hosting this year’s International Book Fair at a time when the Iraqi capital is basking in a period of optimism boosted by unprecedented security stability after enduring years of conflict and terrorism, which encouraged people to go out in large numbers to explore the latest in the world of knowledge and culture, and entertain their families in a festive atmosphere.