Afghan publishers’ low attendance at Tehran Book Fair; economic problems, lack of motivation and lack of support

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Tehran: Ebrahim Shariati, an Afghan, expressed regret and said: “Unfortunately, with each passing year, fewer Afghan publishers are attending this fair. This year, not a single publisher from inside Afghanistan is attending. I don’t know if any books are being published at all, or if the economic situation is bad; but in general, there is no favorable situation for publishing and participating in the fair.”

 

He added that even among active Afghan publishers living in Iran, attendance at the Tehran Book Fair has been limited: “In the past, people like Mr. Sayed Nader Mousavi used to participate in the fair, but now they no longer participate; because there is neither reception nor sales. Those whose previously published books have not sold have suffered losses.”

Shariati emphasized: “We are participating solely out of necessity. Because we produce books in Iran and we also sell in this country. We have to be present at the fair, but this year’s fair was very lackluster and weak. Even on the opening day, Iranians do not have the same motivation and enthusiasm as in previous years; because the people’s financial situation is inadequate.”

According to this Afghan publisher, the costs of participating in the fair are very high and in many cases do not have a financial return: “When there are no visitors and buyers, the book does not sell. In the 10 days of the fair, we spend at least 50 million tomans; for rent, transportation, food, booth rental, purchasing equipment, and other things. These costs are almost fuel. In addition, we spend about 500 to 600 million tomans annually on book printing.”

He continued: “The reality is that the Tehran Book Fair is no longer like in previous years. It is not true that some say that the low attendance of Afghans is due to differences or lack of unity. This is the Tehran International Book Fair, and anyone who has a book can participate. But when there are no books, no printing, or when they are printed and not sold, there is no reason to attend.”

The cultural activist concluded by adding: “Maybe the situation will improve next year, but ultimately, the main issue is motivation; when there is no motivation left, nothing will get done.”

 

This is while the pavilion of the works of the late Allama Saadat Malook Tabesh (maybe), a prominent Afghan jihadi and cultural thinker, is present as a special guest at this year’s Tehran International Book Fair. According to Mr. Moradi, the person in charge of this booth, this year more than 86,000 volumes of his works have been published and distributed in the form of 46 book titles and are available to readers completely free of charge.

However, in the dedicated international section of the Tehran Book Fair, there is no booth named Afghanistan.