Tehran International Book Fair kicks off

TEHRAN,May 2(MNA) -- The 25th edition of the Tehran International Book Fair was inaugurated Tuesday with the attendance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, and other cultural officials. The book fair opens to the public today and will run until May 12 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla. Over 2,400 Iranian publishers and 1600 publishers from 77 countries are offering their products at the fair this year, Persian news agencies reported on Tuesday. Organizers of the fair have also arranged several programs during the event including paying tribute to Martyr Morteza Motahhari which will take place today. Ayatollah Motahhari, a great scholar, cleric, and university professor, was martyred by the terrorist group Forqan in 1979, just a few months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. May 1, the day marking the martyrdom anniversary of Ayatollah Motahhari, has been designated as Teachers’ Day in Iran. Historian scholar and manuscript expert Iraj Afshar, as well as “Savushun” author Simin Daneshvar are also the other scholars who will be honored during the fair on May 8 and 11 respectively.