The 11th Istanbul International Arabic Book Fair, which gathered over 300 publishers from more than 30 countries, concluded in Istanbul on Sunday. The pavilion of the Islamic Republic of Iran presented the cultural and literary potential of the country to visitors, showcasing works in literature, history, art, and cultural heritage. This provided the Arab-speaking audience with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with Iranian cultural and literary products, according to ILNA.
Parallel to the fair, a delegation of publishers and cultural figures from Iran visited various sections of the event and the Iranian pavilion. During this visit, the Iranian delegation, accompanied by Bahram Kian, Cultural Attaché of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Istanbul, met with Professor Mahmoud Erol Kılıç, CEO of IRCICA (Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture), to discuss developing ties between publishers, authors, and cultural activists from Iran and IRCICA.
Following this trip, members of the Global Palestinian Literary Prize delegation held a meeting with Ahmad Mohammadi, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Istanbul, and Bahram Kian at the General Consulate's office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss opportunities for cultural and literary cooperation.
Mohammadi emphasized the importance of using cultural and literary potential to support the Palestinian cause, insisting on the need to strengthen ties with writers, poets, publishers, and cultural activists from various countries, as well as promoting literary works concerning Palestine.
During the meeting, Maysam Nili, head of the Association of Publishers of the Islamic Revolution and Chair of the Council for the Policy of the Global Palestinian Literary Prize, stated that this Prize is an international, non-governmental event organized in cooperation with cultural and literary unions and associations from several countries.
He added that the goal of this prize is to identify and present the best literary works dedicated to Palestine, the resistance of the Palestinian people, the liberation of Jerusalem (Al-Quds), and the crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine. The prize is also intended to honor writers, poets, and publishers worldwide who have defended the Palestinian people through their work.
Highlighting the grassroots and international nature of the event, Nili noted: 'This prize belongs to the nations supporting Palestine; writers, poets, and publishers from all over the world are invited to join this cultural and literary movement in support of the Palestinian people and the defense of Al-Quds, the first Qibla of Muslims.'
Regarding the goals of the delegation's trip to Istanbul, he indicated that one of the main objectives is to seek out writers, poets, publishers, and literature related to Palestine and resistance in Turkey. Efforts are underway to recognize the literary and cultural potential in this area and establish channels for communication and cooperation between the secretariat of this structure and their counterparts in Turkey.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the necessity of utilizing international book fairs, cultural institutions, and networks of publishers and writers to expand literary and cultural interaction and promote works related to Palestine.
The first edition of the Istanbul International Arabic Book Fair took place in 2016 with the participation of 170 publishers from 15 Arab countries, in addition to Iran, Turkey, and Italy. In subsequent years, the fair has evolved into an annual event for the Arab publishing industry in Turkey and a platform for interaction among Arab and Turkish publishers, readers, and cultural institutions. The fair targets millions of Arabs living in Turkey, as well as people of Arab descent and those who speak Arabic, aiming to promote the Arabic language in Turkey and strengthen cultural ties between Arabs and Turks.