In a new brilliance and an important cultural achievement, Professor Dr. Wahid Mahmood Al-Ibrahimi, President of the University of Mosul, inaugurated the First International Book Forum and Exhibition at the University of Mosul on Sunday morning, October 26, 2025. The event, held at the Scientific and Literary Forum Hall, featured wide Arab and international participation, with distinguished official, academic, and cultural attendance.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Kar Honk Anthony, UNESCO Education Representative, French Consul in Mosul, Fabrice Debyliçon, Italian Consul in Erbil, Tommaso Sansoni, Mr. Adnan Al-Rakabi, Advisor to the Iraqi National Security Service, judges representing the Nineveh Court of Appeals, Dr. Ghada Al-Amili, representative of the Publishers and Booksellers Association in Iraq, along with members of the university council, as well as numerous intellectuals, academics, and cultural enthusiasts.

The ceremony began with a speech by Professor Dr. Wahid Mahmoud Al-Ibrahimi, who welcomed the distinguished attendees and expressed his pride in the launch of this major cultural event at a university that stood as a symbol of resilience and willpower after academic life had stopped during the terrorist groups’ occupation of the city between 2014–2017. He highlighted how the university has risen today, proudly combining science, reconstruction, culture, and creativity, reflecting a bright image of Mosul and its esteemed university. He emphasized that this achievement would not have been possible without the collective national and international efforts supporting the university’s scientific and cultural revival.

In another speech, Mr. Kar Honk Anthony, UNESCO’s Education Representative, expressed the organization’s commitment to continuing its support for the University of Mosul in its cultural and educational projects, praising its pioneering role in building knowledge and promoting a culture of peace through its renewed scientific and cultural activities.

For her part, Dr. Ghada Al-Amili, representative of the Publishers and Booksellers Association in Iraq, confirmed that this exhibition is an important step in restoring the University of Mosul to its rightful place as a major contributor to Arab culture. She recalled the university’s history when it possessed the second-largest library in the Middle East before it was destroyed during the occupation period. She also confirmed ongoing collaboration between the association and the university to support cultural and intellectual movements.

The celebration included video presentations introducing the university and the project to restore the central library at the University of Mosul. In addition, the First International Exhibition Shield was presented to the supporting and participating entities in recognition of their role in the event’s success.

After the ceremony, attendees toured the permanent exhibition held in the Student Center gardens, which featured wide sections from Iraqi, Arab, and international publishing houses. They explored the most prominent cultural, academic, and intellectual publications and listened to explanations about publishing projects and knowledge production, amidst noticeable cultural interaction that reflected the university’s commitment to enhancing its knowledge mission and opening up to the world through books and knowledge.