Mosul’s Book Street resumes activity with vibrant cultural event

MOSUL — Book Street in East Mosul has resumed its vibrant cultural activities after a hiatus due to student exams and extreme temperatures, which had previously halted operations. Additional challenges such as low purchasing power and the costs associated with preparing the space, including cleaning and lighting, also contributed to the delay.

On Friday, the Book Street witnessed an unprecedented turnout, with hundreds of readers visiting the book stalls from the opening hour. The stalls featured a diverse range of old books, some offered for free and others priced as low as 250 Iraqi dinars. The event also included a quiz competition that tested participants’ knowledge on the culture and history of Mosul, often referred to as “Umm Al-Rabeein.”

Established in November 2017 following the liberation of Nineveh Governorate from ISIS, Book Street is strategically located near the walls of Mosul University. The initiative, proposed by a local youth to the International Organization for Migration and backed by Japan, was crucial in revitalizing Mosul’s literary scene after ISIS militants destroyed all the bookstores on Al-Najafi Street. Open every Friday between Asr (afternoon) and Maghrib (sunset) prayers, Book Street serves as a sanctuary for those without access to a permanent bookstore.

“We are back with a very strong activity today, and as you can see, hundreds of readers are here, buying dozens of books since the early hours of the event, all at very affordable prices to support readers,” Salah Al-Warraq, the head of Book Street, told 964media. He noted the diversity of the crowd, which included women, men, and children, all passionate about reading and acquiring knowledge. “The available books cover a wide range of topics, and each person can find titles that interest them. We are trying to continue holding these activities every Friday, relying on self-efforts to prepare the space and involving new bookstores.”

Abdul Karim Sheet, a bookstore owner, shared his excitement: “Today, I displayed books on various subjects including politics, Mosul’s heritage, sociology, and religion because readers have diverse interests. I sold some books for as low as 1,500 dinars to support readers, and the turnout today is incredible. I hope it continues like this in the coming weeks.”

Daoud Salem, owner of Al-Sham Bookstore, echoed this sentiment: “The turnout was very high today because of the low prices. I sold books for 250 dinars, 1,000 dinars, and even gave away some for free. The books included Islamic, literary, social, and self-development topics.”

Reflecting on the event’s success, Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, a reader, remarked, “I believe Mosul is very thirsty for such activities. The proof is that bookstores sold half of their books in the first hour after opening.”