The Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain has announced the completion of all preparations for the opening of the 20th Karbala International Book Fair, held as part of the 20th edition of the Rabi’ Al-Shahada International Cultural Festival. The fair will witness wide participation from Arab and international publishing houses and will feature a comprehensive cultural and intellectual program aimed at promoting a culture of reading and knowledge within society.

The fair’s director, Mr. Ghayth Al-Dabbagh, stated to Karbala Now news agency that this edition will see extensive participation from international publishing houses, as well as scientific and religious institutions, cultural centers, and several holy shrines. He emphasized that the fair will stand out both organizationally and culturally.

Mr. Al-Dabbagh added that this year’s edition is dedicated to the memory of His Eminence Sayyed Muhammad Saeed Al-Hakim (may God have mercy on his soul). It will include a rich cultural program featuring a series of intellectual and cultural seminars held alongside the fair in the seminar hall. These sessions aim to encourage reading, develop writing skills, and provide guidance on selecting appropriate books for different age groups.

He further noted that the fair will host participants from several Arab and foreign countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, and the United Kingdom, in addition to others, bringing the total number of participating countries to approximately seven, with nearly 80 exhibition booths.

According to Al-Dabbagh, the fair will showcase around 70,000 book titles across a wide range of academic, scientific, and literary fields. It will also include dedicated activities for children, featuring cultural and recreational programs designed to enhance cognitive awareness. The fair will run for ten days, from the first to the tenth of the month of Sha‘ban, marking a significant cultural event that brings together knowledge, thought, and cultural openness in the holy city of Karbala.

Emad Bao