The 25th TIBF event represents 25 years of related experiences – minister

1391/02/14-08:30

The 25th edition of Tehran International Book Fair that opened in Khomeini Mosalla (Grand Mosque), north of Tehran on May 1 showcases a quarter of century of experiences in the field, IRI Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Sayyed Muhammad Husseini told an opening ceremony for the landmark cultural event Tuesday.

The 25th edition of the major international event was inaugurated on May 1 in an evening ceremony led by the IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to IBNA.

The minister opened his speech by reading out a literary text about the role of publications and book fair in society. He thanked all individuals involved in preparing and establishing the book fair, adding that in Islam, the miracle of the God’s messenger has emerged in the frames of a book (Holy Koran) and for the same reason books have found an essential position in Islamic society.

Mr. Husseini termed the landmark book event exceptional in terms of number of inspections it receives every year, adding that during the past edition, up to five million individuals inspected the book fair. “It is a precious event. In few other fairs in the world we may witness such a large welcome,” he said.

The minister described the book fair as an effort to meet the call of the Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei for promotion of the culture of book reading in society.

The minister then presented some facts about the 25 edition of the international cultural event, saying that all organizers of the past editions of the book fair will be praised during in a special ceremony during the fair period. He also said the inspectors to the book fair would have the opportunity to meet with top authors and publishers first hand in special literary and cultural sessions scheduled in the book fair.

Hallways of different sections of the fairground have been named after the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, the minister said, adding that a special ceremony will be held on the sideline of the book fair to celebrate the 1399th birth anniversary of Hadhrat Fatema Zahra (S.A), the revered daughter of the noble4st messenger of Allah, Hadhrat Muhammad (S.A.)

The minister then touched on a national, master project to build a permanent fairground for the landmark cultural event, saying that the project was highly feasible as up to 75,000 square meters out of total 125,000 square meters of the fairground area in the present venue (Mosalla) were in open air. “Organizers had to set up tentative partitions to build pavilions and will have to dismantle them in ten days. This is a great loss of energy,” he said.

The minister wrapped up his remarks by a piece of good news for national publishers and booksellers. According to Mr. Husseini, bookshops nationwide were exempted by the government from any taxes for a first time.