تقرير/ سيف مهدي
عدسة/ محمود رؤوف
On the third anniversary of the “Great Victory” Day, which was announced from the city of Mosul after years of war against the terrorist organization ISIS, Which coincides with the second day of the opening of the Iraq International Book Fair in the center of the capital, Baghdad, A day in which Iraq has turned from the sounds of guns and the sounds of bullets to a day when citizens wander through the book titles at the book fair.
After most countries of the world were warning their citizens not to go to Iraq, Today, several publishers from 21 countries are participating in the Book Fair.
While touring the exhibition, we came across a member of the Counter-Terrorism Service carrying with him a collection of books whose names he refused to disclose for reasons attributed to security, he said. And we asked him about his feelings on that day, He replied that it was “a joy that does not exceed the joy throughout his life” and a smile on his face, So we asked him what is different today from the same day three years ago, He replied, “At first the place is different, I was in Mosul three years ago, carrying my weapons, ammunition and a set of explosives “pomegranates”, and I did not wash for many days, walking between mines and death closer to me “than a vein”, And today in Baghdad in beautiful clothes and carrying with me a collection of books with which to arm my culture and thought, The most prominent difference was summarized by the difference between “the sound of screaming from death and the sound of screaming for joy may be from a child and may be between two friends who met inside the exhibition, In his speech, sadness for the memory of his friends and the bodies of civilians killed by terrorism was mixed with joy and joy at the pleasure of the anniversary of the victory and what is happening and seeing it on the faces of those present.
He also told us about some of the events he experienced while fighting terrorists in several provinces. Including how they used to move through holes in the walls of houses inside the old city of Mosul, He stressed that days they ate under their combat vehicles away from the barrels of the guns of terrorist snipers.
He went on to talk about the days when they received food in nylon bags, And others where they wait for water on hot summer days.
He added that the presence of citizens in large numbers and large numbers at the book fair is a good indication of the spread of culture inside Iraq despite the nose of terrorism and terrorists. He called on everyone to come to this exhibition while congratulating everyone on the anniversary of the victory and the opening of such cultural exhibitions. On the other hand, the Director of Public Relations and Media at the Ministry of Interior, Major General Saad Maan, said during his presence at the exhibition, The timing of the opening with the Day of the Great Victory “warms hearts”, Especially since today there is a great positive morale on the anniversary of the victory and also morale “especially for the educated class” with the presence of such a book fair and the presence of hundreds of publishing houses, Considering it an opportunity and a space for the educated family to be inside the exhibition in central Baghdad.
For his part, Colonel Nibras Mohammed Ali, Director of Media of the Ministry of Interior Agency for Police Affairs, who visited the exhibition looking for some titles at the book fair, Coinciding with the anniversary of the Great Victory Day with the opening of the Iraq International Book Fair, It is a clear message that Iraqi thought defeated terrorist ideology with its love of life, science and knowledge. Stressing that reading is a key factor for the development of peoples, Wishing the continuation of such cultural celebrations as they encourage a culture of peaceful coexistence, Iraq boasts of its cultural triumphs.