Baghdad book fair closes with tribute to a century of Iraqi women’s achievements

BAGHDAD — The Iraq International Book Fair wrapped up its 10-day run on Saturday in Baghdad with a closing ceremony honoring Iraqi women, highlighting pioneers in law, education and the arts whose work has shaped the country’s modern history.

Fakhri Karim, head of Al-Mada Foundation, which organized the fair, delivered a keynote speech recalling the contributions of Sabeeha Al-Sheikh Daoud, the first female lawyer in Iraq, who graduated from the Faculty of Law nearly a century ago. Karim noted that she and her father, a religious figure in Baghdad, were early advocates for women’s right to education.

“In all of Iraq’s history, whether in times of prosperity or hardship, there has been no progress without the presence of Iraqi women,” Karim said. “If we return to the 1920s, we will remember the remarkable figure of Sabeeha.”

Karim added, “This celebration of women is meant to remind those who seek to silence women’s voices to look at just one hundred Iraqi women to understand their contributions to Iraq’s past, present, and future.”

He highlighted the creative and professional achievements of Iraqi women in fields such as literature, art, architecture and medicine, saying, “These women have crossed boundaries and affirmed the presence of Iraqi women.”

Organizers said more than 450 Arab and international publishing houses took part in this year’s edition, showcasing titles in Arabic and other languages, including hundreds of new releases for 2025.

The fair, held from Dec. 3 to Dec. 13 at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds, dedicated a special program to celebrating the contributions of 100 Iraqi women to the country’s cultural, intellectual and artistic life over the past century, framing the closing ceremony as both a literary event and a tribute to women’s role in public life.