Baghdad International Book Festival Receives Visitors from Thirty Countries

The activities of the Baghdad International Book Festival kicked off with the participation of five hundred publishing houses from thirty countries. The festival includes literary seminars, poetry evenings, and special pavilions for Iraqi writers abroad. The festival administration announced a major award for works addressing Iraq's civilizational history. Intellectuals see this event as restoring Baghdad's cultural position, and opening the door for dialogue between creators from different countries. The festival receives thousands of visitors daily from students, academics, and families, indicating Iraqi society's interest in reading and culture despite challenges. The festival administration dedicated a special program for children and youth including drawing and story workshops, aimed at instilling a love of reading from an early age. This festival is considered a message from Baghdad to the world that the city remains a beacon of knowledge and literature. On its opening day, the festival hosted a special seminar on Baghdad's role in Islamic civilization, attended by researchers from Arab and European universities.