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The activities of the Algiers International Book Fair continue after it opened its doors yesterday, Thursday, to visitors who love reading and books, and will continue until November 16. Under the slogan “We read to win,” it coincides with Algeria’s celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the glorious November 1 revolution.
1,007 publishers from 40 countries, including 290 Algerian publishers, are participating in this event, displaying more than 300,000 titles in an exhibition held by Algeria annually, attracting about 3 million visitors, according to figures issued by the organizers of this important cultural event.
The governor of the Algeria International Book Fair, Mohamed Iqrab, said that from the first daylight hours of the opening of the fair, there was a large turnout from book lovers, which is what is usually known about the Algeria International Book Fair.
Muhammad Iqrab, in statements to Al Jazeera Net, expected that the turnout would be greater in conjunction with the weekend, as the show usually attracts about 600,000 visitors per day in the same period during previous years, stressing that the culture sector seeks, through good and precise organization of this exhibition, to enhance love for… Books and readability among Algerians.
Qatar is guest of honor
The Governor of the Algiers International Book Fair considered that choosing Qatar to be the guest of honor for this edition is a very good decision, as it has advanced dynamism in the cultural and artistic aspects. It is a country that embraces well-known writers and pens, which makes the occasion an opportunity to exchange ideas between Algerian writers and their Qatari counterparts, and even with readers, which is what It is evident in the large turnout at the Qatari Pavilion
For his part, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Algeria, Abdulaziz Ali Al-Naama, stressed that the participation of the Qatari Ministry of Culture as a guest of honor in the Algiers International Book Fair comes to embody the ongoing, deep-rooted and advanced Algerian-Qatari relations, the features of which were established by the leaders of the two countries, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. And Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Abdel Aziz Ali Al-Naama noted, in his interview with Al Jazeera Net, that the Qatari participation is significant and of a special nature in the eyes of the Algerians, which is evident in the great demand for the Qatari pavilion and the exhibition in general, which confirms its success.
In turn, the supervisor of the Qatari Ministry of Culture’s pavilion, Abdul Karim Saad Al-Hamidi, praised the unparalleled turnout at the Qatari pavilion, and considered it due to the nature of the Algerian society, which is aware and open to learning about Qatari culture and the diversity of its customs and traditions.
In his interview with Al Jazeera Net, Abdul Karim Saad Al-Hamidi noted the keenness to highlight the Qatari heritage in the pavilion inspired by Qatari architecture, in addition to the fact that it includes publications from the Qatari Ministry of Culture and Qatari publishing houses. The holdings of the Qatari Book House and some traditional crafts are also displayed, with a special allocation. A pavilion for children and participation in various seminars and performances presented by a Qatari folk band.
Thistle and cloves
The novel “Thistles and Cloves” by the martyr Yahya Sinwar – the former head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) – witnessed a great demand for purchase with the launch of the Algiers International Book Fair, according to what was confirmed by the commercial official at the Algerian Al-Wa’i Publishing and Distribution House, Rafiq Shaba, because of their desire to learn about the story of the martyr. Yahya Al-Sanwar.
Rafiq Shaba, in his interview with Al Jazeera Net, also attributed the great demand for expatriates to know that the proceeds from this novel would go to the Palestinian Center for Studies in support of Gaza.
For their part, the visitors confirmed the acquisition of the novel “Thistles and Cloves”, in their interview with Al Jazeera Net, that the love of learning about Yahya Al-Sinwar's career and publishing some parts of the novel coinciding with his martyrdom are the most prominent reasons for acquiring it.
In this regard, the Algerian historian, Dr. Muhammad Al-Amin Balghaith, justifies the acquisition of the novel by the status that Yahya Al-Sinwar now enjoys as a person who fulfilled his duty to the last minute of his life, in addition to his foresight in his conversation with his mother, according to what the novel contained in the manner of his martyrdom, and it was his, which makes learning about the journey of a man He became a hero – according to him – to free peoples, and his role in the Al-Aqsa flood was an urgent necessity.
Siham, one of those who came to the exhibition to acquire the novel, considered that the great reputation of “Thistles and Cloves” and its author were what prompted her to search for it, in addition to her desire to know the way of thinking of a man whose name was written in the history of the struggle, in addition to the fact that the novel was born in the occupation prisons, where Sinwar was found for years.
Diverse trends
The director of the Egyptian Vision Publishing House, Reda Awad, says that a number of publishers and writers are keen to attend the Algiers International Book Fair every year, especially in light of the interest of the organizers in Algeria to attract all publishing houses that have purposeful cultural projects with the aim of creating a kind of journalistic dialogue and controversy. Through the printed book.
In his conversation with Al Jazeera Net, Reda Awad confirms that he has noticed an influx into publishing houses, which suggests different orientations of readers, similar to the demand witnessed by modern enlightenment books and books of studies and knowledge.
Salsabil, one of the visitors to the exhibition, describes the cultural occasion as an opportunity to purchase books that are difficult to find on other days, as the exhibition includes publishing houses from various countries at prices that are competitive, especially this year.
Salsabil confirmed to Al Jazeera Net that her wandering through the exhibition allowed her to find most of the books she wanted to buy in different languages, including scientific, philosophical, and even novels that she was interested in reading.
