The Damascus International Book Fair, currently being held at the fairgrounds in the Syrian capital, has witnessed unusual and unexpected incidents — from theft to troubling sexism and even the promotion of extremism — sparking anger among social media users.
The current edition of the Damascus Book Fair is being held from February 6 to 16 under the patronage of the Syrian Ministry of Culture and the Presidency. It is the fair’s first edition since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar are this edition’s guests of honor.
The Saudi Delegation Robbed!
In an unusual incident, cars belonging to the Saudi delegation participating in the Damascus International Book Fair were broken into, and the delegation documented the moment one of its vehicles was smashed in an attempt to steal its contents.
This incident reflected badly on the cultural event and its participants, and cast a shadow over the atmosphere of the fair and those responsible for organization and security.
According to circulating information, the incident took place at the same time as the fair’s opening, while the Syrian authorities have not yet issued any further official details about the circumstances of the theft or the measures taken against the thieves.
Unexpected Appearance of Extremist Books!
On the other hand, the fair has been engulfed in major controversy over the presence of books by authors linked to jihadist and terrorist organizations, or books addressing their ideology in a way some considered to be promoting extremism.
After Iraqi intelligence intervened and asked the Syrian authorities to prevent the display and sale of a book attributed to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former leader of “al-Qaeda in Iraq,” titled “Has the Account of the Rafidah Reached You?”, on the grounds that it contains takfiri and inflammatory content against specific sects, the controversy did not end there.
It was then suddenly announced that the memoirs of Sheikh Mahfouz Ould al-Walid (Abu Hafs al-Mauritani), the former mufti of “al-Qaeda,” would be displayed for the first time in Syria as part of the Damascus International Book Fair. The announcement came through Ould al-Walid’s own Facebook page.
Activists criticized what is happening at the fair as an unprecedented relaxation of oversight, with some describing it as “chaos” that allowed previously banned titles to slip through because of their clear promotion and glorification of extremism, hatred, and terrorism.
Overt Sexism: A Shift Toward Conservative Thought!
In another context, activists and human rights advocates criticized the visual and organizational identity of this year’s Damascus International Book Fair, saying it had an overwhelmingly male character. A sharp decline in female presence was noted in organizing committees, in the accompanying intellectual and literary seminars, in the symbolism of promotional posters, and even among the fair’s visitors.
Some believe this reflects a shift in Syria’s cultural scene toward “conservatism,” or the influence of a dominant ideology that marginalizes women’s role in the public sphere, angering civic groups that have historically viewed the fair as a showcase of Syrian diversity.
Some also linked reports of makeup being banned in certain departments or universities to images of men-only seminars at the book fair. Critics say these measures are intended to appease certain groups or project a more “conservative” image of Syrian society in line with the country’s political shifts, following the rise to power in Damascus of figures who were previously fighters in terrorist organizations.
Damascus Book Fair: Brief Details
The day before yesterday, Thursday, a new exceptional edition of the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair opened in the Syrian capital at Exhibition City under the slogan, “A history we write… a history we read,” in the fair’s first edition since the fall of the Assad regime.
The Damascus International Book Fair features the participation of more than 500 Arab and international publishing houses, in addition to representation from more than 35 Arab and foreign countries. The fair’s pavilions include more than 100,000 titles across various fields.
The fair’s activities continue from February 6 to 16, daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., while on Fridays it runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. This edition comes after a five-year hiatus; the first Damascus International Book Fair was held in 1984.
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