A New Book Fair Shows Syria’s Open‑Book Future

The Damascus book fair this month marked a turning point for the country, showing that books once banned are now on shelves and selling well. The event opened after Bashar al‑Assad’s regime fell, reflecting how the new government has changed Syria’s cultural rules. At the fair, readers could find works by Sayyid Qutb, a former Islamist thinker whose writings were once illegal. A publisher who has re‑printed Qutb’s titles said the demand is huge, noting that 150 copies of “Milestones” were sold since opening day. Qutb’s ideas once fueled militancy in Egypt, and some critics say his books were misunderstood. Other controversial titles appeared too. A volume of fatwas by Ibn Taymiyyah, a 700‑year‑old scholar whose ideas influence some modern Islamist groups, was displayed. The fair also sold memoirs from former al‑Qaeda members, including a book by Abu Hafs al‑Mauritani who left the group in 2001 and later said Islam forbids killing innocents.Not all books made the cut: a book with audio speeches by former Iraqis al‑Qaeda leader Abu Musab al‑Zarqawi was removed after Iraqi authorities complained that it promoted hatred. The fair’s coordinator explained the decision was to avoid stirring international tensions. The event also highlighted Kurdish culture, a major shift from the past when Kurdish books were hidden or banned. A Kurdish pavilion showcased poetry and a 1932 magazine, underscoring the new government’s recognition of Kurdish language as a national tongue. Veteran activist Haitham Maleh, who was once imprisoned for his writings, said the fair signals an opening to new ideas and global thought. “It’s a step forward, ” he said, echoing the sense that Syria is moving away from censorship toward intellectual freedom. The fair’s broad range of books—from Islamist texts to Kurdish literature—illustrates how the new Syria is redefining what can be read, marking a hopeful change in its cultural landscape.