December 2010 - Asiacell - the first and largest Iraqi telecommunication company and the only mobile telecom company providing coverage for all of Iraq – announced that it is sponsoring the printing of ten books by different Iraqi authors. The books will be published by the Iraqi Writers Union in Basra as part of the seventh Al-Marbid Poetry Festival held under the title ‘Dawrat Baland Al-Haidary’.
Asiacell’s sponsorship stems from its interest to remain at the forefront of supporters of the fine arts movement in Iraq, and to respond to the different needs of the local community in Iraq. The books that will be printed as part of Asiacell’s sponsorship include ‘Thekrayat Tanfud Al No’as’ by Hamed Abdul Samad Al-Basry; ‘Holm Fi Al-Masah’ by Aziz Al-Sa’ady; ‘Ameer Min Oar’ by Hussein Abdul Latif; ‘Arb’a Masrahiyat’ by Bunyan Saleh; ‘Qira’at Oula’ by Jasem Al-Ayef; ‘Kitab Qasa’ed Adam Al-Iraqi’ by Abdul Baqi Faraj; ‘Ozlah Bi Lawn Al-Bahar’ by Hussam Latif Al-Bahah; ‘Furaq La Yabloghuhu Al-Hanin’ by Taher Thaher Habib; ‘Ighteyal’ by Abdul Sattar Al-Ani; and ‘Al So’od Ela Al-Asfal’ by Nabil Jamil.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Abdulla Hasan, Media and Public relations head, said: “We take pride in participating in the seventh Al-Marbid Poetry Festival and in sponsoring the printing of ten different books by Iraqi authors. This initiative shows our support to Iraqi authors, who need our assistance in reviving our culture and creating new pieces of literature that correspond to contemporary changes. We believe in the important role they play in portraying an admirable image of Iraq, which we aspire to build by challenging all the hardships that we are facing.”
Hasan added: “Through our different initiatives, we continuously seek to contribute in an effective manner to provide value added initiatives to our fellow Iraqis in different sectors and especially the fine arts movement in Iraq.”
It is worth noting that the Al-Marbid Poetry Festival was launched at the Culture Center in Basra on the 23rd of March 2010, for a period of three days, and included the participation of 187 Iraqi poets residing in Iraq, fifty Iraqi authors residing in other countries, and a group of renowned Iraqi and foreign poets. The event also included folklore dances by Al-Bsara Group for Folklore Arts, poetry readings, book fairs, and painting and photography exhibitions. The festival’s agenda incorporated various critique sessions including a session on the accomplishments of the late poet Blend Al-Haidari, along with a study session and a short film about the late poet Bader Shaker Al-Seyyab under the title ‘Huna Yarqod Al-Mattar’. The festival also featured musical pieces played by the National Iraqi Symphony Orchestra who are continuously sponsored and supported by Asiacell.
