Masoud Barzani welcomes guests to International Book Fair

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‘The World Speaks Kurdish’:
Erbil Set to Host 17th International Book Fair

In a statement to Kurdistan24, Al-Mada Foundation confirmed that this year’s edition will host 350 publishing houses from 22 Arab and international countries, showcasing a vast array of literary and scholarly works
By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The city of Erbil is preparing to host one of the most anticipated cultural events in the Middle East, as the 17th Erbil International Book Fair is set to open its doors on April 9 at Sami Abdul Rahman Park. The ten-day exhibition, which will run through April 19, promises to be a dynamic convergence of literature, language, and intellectual exchange.

Organized annually by Al-Mada Foundation for Media, Culture and Arts, the fair is held under the patronage of President Masoud Barzani and in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

In a statement to Kurdistan24, Al-Mada Foundation confirmed that this year’s edition will host 350 publishing houses from 22 Arab and international countries, showcasing a vast array of literary and scholarly works.

Among the participants are publishing houses from neighboring countries, the Arab Maghreb, and the Gulf region—some of whom will be attending for the first time.

The theme of this year’s fair, “The World Speaks Kurdish,” underscores the growing global recognition of the Kurdish language. It reflects recent momentum in translating international literature into Kurdish, and it celebrates major milestones such as Google's official inclusion of Kurdish in its language portfolio

The fair is set across an expansive area of 20,000 square meters, offering ample space for browsing, interaction, and dialogue.

Beyond its traditional role as a marketplace for books, the Erbil International Book Fair continues to evolve into a vibrant forum for cultural diplomacy and intellectual exchange. The event’s agenda features a wide range of panels and debates on translation, language preservation, and literary innovation, with the participation of notable Kurdish and Arab thinkers, writers, and translators.

These sessions will explore the state of the publishing industry, linguistic challenges, and the future of Kurdish-language literature.

In coordination with the Association of Iraqi Publishers and Libraries, the fair will also host workshops focusing on the development of the book industry in Iraq and the broader region. Additionally, cultural dialogues and literary discussions will be organized in collaboration with the Union of Iraqi Writers and Authors.

The program includes poetry readings, author meet-and-greets, and book signings, ensuring that attendees experience not just books, but also the stories and people behind them.

Al-Mada Foundation confirmed that artistic performances and specialized panels on issues affecting Iraq and the wider region will also be part of the exhibition’s activities. These events are designed to bridge cultures and provoke thought at a time when literature plays an increasingly important role in shaping public discourse.

The Erbil International Book Fair continues to be a testament to the city’s growing stature as a cultural capital in the region, reaffirming the importance of intellectual freedom, cultural diversity, and linguistic identity in an era of global transformation.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... -book-fair

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Just a reminder of the book fair

Hopefully it will continue to become bigger and better each year

Roj Bash Kurdistan wishes all those involved a great deal of success

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Barzani Welcomes Arab Intellectuals

Ahead of Erbil Book Fair

Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), received a delegation of Arab intellectuals, writers, and cultural figures in Salahaddin on Thursday evening, ahead of their participation in the 17th Erbil International Book Fair

The guests, who had traveled to the Kurdistan Region to attend the annual literary event, praised Barzani for his long-standing support of cultural dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and political engagement in both Kurdistan and Iraq.

During the meeting, the visiting delegation commended the continued success of the Erbil International Book Fair and the efforts of its organizers—particularly Fakhri Karim and the Al-Mada Foundation—in making the event a cornerstone of cultural development in the Region

The delegation described the fair and similar initiatives as powerful tools for social progress, intercultural exchange, and the enrichment of language and literature across the Middle East.

Barzani warmly welcomed the guests, expressing appreciation for their visit and their shared interest in cultural advancement. In his remarks, he highlighted the contributions of great Kurdish scholars and writers to Kurdish literature and the broader intellectual heritage of the region.

He emphasized that culture and enlightenment remain fundamental pillars for fostering understanding between peoples and nations in the Middle East. Barzani also offered the delegation a concise overview of Iraq's political history and the hardships the Kurdish people have endured.

Later in the meeting, delegation members posed questions to Barzani about the Kurdish cause, Syria’s evolving political landscape, and recent regional developments. Barzani responded with thoughtful reflections, offering his views on ongoing transformations and challenges across the region.

The visit underscored the growing cultural significance of the Kurdistan Region as a space for free expression and intellectual dialogue, especially at a time when such values are under threat in many parts of the Middle East.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/880347

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English-language books increasingly popular in Kurdistan



More and more people in Kurdistan are reading English-language books, especially the youth

“I mostly read books in English. Since childhood, I would watch English materials - YouTube, movies, and channels - and I would also mostly read English books because my curriculum is in English,” Malak Bilal, a student, told Rudaw at the fair on Friday.

Students Dler and Yousef Bayiz, who came from Duhok, also said they read English books, finding it easier to understand the English text in scientific books.

Bookstore owners say they have tried to make all the latest titles from the United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries available to readers.

“Because of the curriculum available in our country and the English-medium private schools, readers in the English language have increased. There are people who translate books from Kurdish, but it is not like the original book in English,” said Hussein Salim, the owner of Haval Bookstore in Erbil.

Of the 412 vendors at the fair, only five are specialized in English-language titles, but they are the most in-demand

The fair, organized by the al-Mada Foundation for Media, Culture and Arts, runs for 11 days. Some 50 publishers from 22 countries are participating in the book fair, according to spokesperson Bewar Perasali.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/120420255