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300th Book Fair in Ahvaz

300th Book Fair in Ahvaz
300th Book Fair in Ahvaz

The 300th edition of the provincial book fair opened on Wednesday (Jan. 20) in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province, at the city’s permanent fairgrounds.

Over 425 publishers from across the country, including 10 local have presented more than 53,000 book titles, in 320 stalls in three separate saloons at the venue. Discounts to the tune of $137,000 are on offer.

Furthermore, 3,000 Arabic books by 10 Arab publishers are also on display.

The opening ceremony of the week-long event was attended by Seyed Abbas Salehi, head of the cultural bureau of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mehr News Agency reported.

Story writing sessions, introducing selected works of children and young adults, storytelling sessions and conferences, are events on the sidelines of the exhibition, which runs until January 26.

Khuzestan Province in the southwest borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf. During the 1980-1988 war imposed by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, the province suffered extensive damage. However, local resistance was fierce, stalling the Iraqi military’s advance, and by 1982, Iranian forces were able to kick out the occupying army. The battle for the ‘Liberation of Khorramshahr’ a key port city, was a turning point in the military hostilities, and is officially celebrated every year in Iran.  

Exact official figures on the war casualty are not available. But informed sources in and outside Iran claim a million people died on both sides. Tehran has said the conflict inflicted $1,000 billion in economic loss on the Islamic Republic. Almost all Persian Gulf Arab regimes and western powers supported Saddam in the war with money and arms.

 

Financialtribune.com