Damascus Book Fair Sparks Controversy Over Banned al Qaeda-linked Book

The Syrian government has halted the display of an al Qaeda-linked book at the Damascus book fair following a request from Baghdad, as Iraq attempts to strengthen ties with Syria's Islamist-led government, according to an Iraqi security official on Wednesday.

The contentious book is a compilation of speeches by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq until his death in 2006. Authorities argue that it spreads hatred and incites sectarianism, counteracting Iraqi efforts to foster positive relations with Damascus. This book fair marks the first since Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, assumed power.

Naqsh Publishing House, based in Idlib, previously announced the release of a new edition of the book at the fair, only to retract the posts later. The book's absence was confirmed to fair-goers, reflecting regional tensions over its controversial content. Both the Syrian Ministry of Culture and Naqsh have not responded to requests for comment.