Riyadh International Book Fair
International book fair in Saudi Arabia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Riyadh International Book Fair (RIBF) is an annual book fair in Saudi Arabia. It lasts 11 days[5] and regularly attracts over a half million visitors (it is not the largest fair in the MENA region,[6] contrary to some claims[7]). The fair is used to showcase Saudi government policy,[8][9] and it has been a locus of political power struggles with the government.[10] Hundreds of publishers sell pre-approved books,[5] and some black-market books.[9] Writers take part in literary events. Invited speakers and the public discuss intellectual and social issues. Disagreements sometimes go beyond the bounds of debate, with speakers being shouted down and surrounded by protestors,[4] and arrests of speakers and protestors;[lower-alpha 2] physical assaults are rare but not unknown.[11]
Riyadh International Book Fair | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Multi-genre |
Begins | Tuesday (an opening day, not open to the general public)[1] |
Ends | Saturday (the 10th day, not counting the opening day)[lower-alpha 1] |
Frequency | Annually, in mid-March to April |
Venue | Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center |
Location(s) | Riyadh |
Country | Saudi Arabia |
Organized by | Ministry of Culture |
Website | https://bookfairs.moc.gov.sa/ |
The fair is a focus for political conflict in Saudi Arabia,[10] though some local media sources deny there is political debate.[12] The fair is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information,[10][13] and has been regulated by the religious police; the two have clashed at the fair,[14][10][13] and religious police have been limited to more advisory roles.[15] Some Saudi clerics issued a fatwa criticizing the book fair during the 2012 fair.[10] Journalist Jamal Khashoggi said of the intellectual climate: "It's like McCarthyism in the 1950s".[11]
The fair has been both praised and criticized domestically for providing books and cultural activities which are hard to come by in Saudi Arabia,[10] and criticized internationally for selling anti-semitic and misogynistic books.[16][17][18] Parts of the fair are gender-segregated.[lower-alpha 3]