Zakho international book fair closes after selling more than 37,000 books

ZAKHO — The Zakho International Book Fair wrapped up Saturday evening after a six-day run that drew more than 53,000 visitors and saw 37,263 books sold, organizers said.

Fair director Kovan Hussein told 964media that the event, held from Dec. 1 to 6 at Zakho University’s exhibition hall, brought together 60 publishing houses from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria and Iraq.

Publishers offered more than 50,000 unique titles in Kurdish, Arabic, English and other languages. Organizers described the fair as the first of its kind in Zakho and said it is intended to establish the city as a regular stop on the region’s cultural calendar.

The Jaziry printing and publishing house was recognized as the fair’s top seller. Owner Awab Jaziry told 964media: “We expected success, but not on this scale. I’ve participated in all book fairs across Kurdistan and even abroad, but I’ve never sold as many books as I did in Zakho.”