30K books sold as Kurdish Fair extends run

Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah

The Kurdish Book Fair in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Al-Sulaymaniyah province has been extended by three days until Aug. 25 following strong visitor turnout, with more than 30,000 books sold during its first 10 days, organizers announced on Saturday.

Fair supervisor Rawaz Hama Salih told a press conference that the event, held at Family Mall under the slogan “Kurdish Books, The Home of Our Language and Identity,” had largely achieved its goal of creating a shared space for cultural and intellectual exchange. More than 45 publishing houses and centers from Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran are participating, offering works spanning literature, fiction, history, and other fields.

Organizers had anticipated higher sales, Hama Salih acknowledged, but noted that purchases exceeding 30,000 books “reflected considerable interest in Kurdish-language publications.” The fair has also hosted 10 seminars and panel discussions attended by hundreds of participants, addressing various aspects of the Kurdish Cause.

“Public demand prompted us to extend the fair until Aug. 25, through 11 p.m. local time,” he said, adding that organizers intend to make it an annual event and expand future participation to publishers and cultural centers from across Iraqi Kurdistan.