The Damascus International Book Fair writes its first chapter in the post-ban era.

حضور كردي في معرض دمشق الدولي للكتاب (الجزيرة)

February 16, 2026
libyawire
Culture
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Damascus – The special session of the Damascus International Book Fair reflects a remarkable shift in the Syrian cultural scene, both in terms of the freedom to display books and the diversity of intellectual leanings and the orientations of participating publishing houses, in line with the transformations the country has witnessed.

This shift comes after long years of isolation, restriction, and prohibition, as the fair has returned to form a unifying space for diverse cultural currents, a gathering for publishing houses that were absent or marginalized, and others that were excluded due to their editorial policies or their stances.

This session also features a distinguished Arab and international presence with the participation of 500 publishing houses from 35 countries, alongside the presence of a Kurdish pavilion, participating for the first time in the history of the Damascus International Book Fair. Additionally, hundreds of political, heritage, and religious titles that were previously banned are available, along with thousands of other titles that had not found their way to the fair before. This momentum has been met with intense turnout, reflecting the authentic thirst of Syrians for culture.

Restoration of Status

The participation of his publishing house in the fair is described as a symbolic restoration of status for Syrian books and publishers who were deprived of entering their country for many years.

It was added that many of these publishers were forced to work from abroad, with some establishing publishing houses, focusing clearly on issuing books that reflect the pains and concerns of Syrians. Their publications reached most Arab countries, while the Syrian reader remained distant from them.

It is considered that the return of the fair in this special session is like a “pulse of hope” on the path to restoring Syria’s civilizational role. It was noted that the publishing house did not face any censorship restrictions, despite the diversity of its intellectual and ideological publications from the far right to the far left, expressing pride in this experience.

For its part, it was stated that the current session of the fair represents a pivotal moment for the publishing house and the Syrian cultural scene as a whole after years of prohibition and exile. It was explained that the publishing house was founded in 2015 and was immediately banned from entering the country, at a time when some readers faced questioning merely for possessing books issued by it.

It was confirmed that the publishing house did not face censorship issues upon its participation in the fair, as no restrictions were imposed on titles. The Ministry of Culture provided logistical facilities and assisted in transporting the publishing house’s books from Beirut to Damascus.

A pavilion displaying Kurdish publications at the Damascus International Book Fair

Kurdish Participation

The Kurdish pavilion in the fair’s fifth hall attracted the interest of many visitors. This was explained by the visitors’ interest in learning about aspects of the rich Kurdish culture of knowledge and literature, and because it is the first participation of the Kurdish component in a book fair in contemporary Syrian history.

It was clarified that the pavilion contains historical documents and magazines, including the Kurdish magazine “Hawar,” which was published in Damascus in 1939 as the oldest publication in the Kurdish language in Syria. Hopes were expressed for the return of the features of that era after decades of exclusion and marginalization faced by Kurds throughout the years of Ba’ath Party rule.

Reference was also made to the historical role of the Kurdish component, which produced prominent national figures and participated in resisting the French occupation alongside Arabs decades ago.

The Kurdish pavilion’s participation in this session of the Damascus International Book Fair was described as “historic,” with visitors invited to come to the pavilion to learn about Kurdish culture up close.

Arab Presence

Arab publishing houses stood out at the fair through attractive titles unfamiliar to the Syrian reader, as most Arab participations were the first in 14 years.

It is stated that the publishing house is participating for the first time in the Damascus International Book Fair, considering that this special session constitutes an important cultural opportunity in a city considered the

Damascus International Book Fair

The Damascus International Book Fair is an annual cultural event in Syria, first launched in 2004, that has become one of the largest and most prominent book fairs in the Arab world. It aims to promote reading and cultural exchange by bringing together hundreds of local and international publishers, authors, and intellectuals. Historically, it has served as a significant platform for literary discourse despite the challenges posed by the Syrian conflict in recent years.

Damascus

Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history spanning over 11,000 years. It has been a major cultural and commercial center, ruled by various empires including the Aramaeans, Romans, and Umayyads, who established it as the capital of the Islamic Caliphate in the 7th century. The city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque and the ancient Al-Hamidiyah Souq.

Syria

Syria is a country in the Middle East with a rich history as a cradle of civilization, home to ancient cities like Damascus, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Its historical landscape includes significant archaeological sites from various empires, such as Palmyra and the Crusader castle Krak des Chevaliers. In recent history, the country has been profoundly affected by a complex and ongoing civil war that began in 2011.

Kurdish pavilion

The Kurdish pavilion is a cultural exhibition space that highlights the heritage, art, and identity of the Kurdish people, often featured within larger international expositions or museums. Historically, such pavilions serve to promote awareness of Kurdish culture and history, which has frequently been marginalized within the national narratives of the regions they inhabit.

Beirut

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a history dating back over 5,000 years. It has been ruled by various empires, including the Phoenicians, Romans, and Ottomans, and endured a devastating civil war from 1975 to 1990. Today, it is known as a vibrant, resilient center for culture, finance, and education in the Middle East.

Ba’ath Party

The Ba’ath Party is a pan-Arab socialist political party founded in 1947 in Damascus, Syria, by Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar. It rose to power in both Syria and Iraq during the mid-20th century, advocating for Arab unity, freedom from Western influence, and socialist economic principles. In Syria, it remains the ruling party in a highly authoritarian system, while its influence in Iraq ended with the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003.

French occupation

The French occupation refers to periods when France has exerted military or political control over foreign territories, most notably during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century and colonial expansions in Africa and Southeast Asia from the 17th to 20th centuries. These occupations significantly reshaped global geopolitics, local cultures, and administrative systems, often leaving a complex legacy of cultural exchange and conflict.

Kurdish magazine Hawar

Hawar was a seminal Kurdish literary magazine first published in 1932 in Damascus, which played a crucial role in the development of modern Kurdish written culture. Its founder, Celadet Alî Bedirxan, used it to standardize the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish by promoting its written form in the Latin-based Hawar alphabet.