The session, titled “Literature and the Narrative of Resistance,” featured Hoj. Mostafa Faqih Esfandiari, Deputy for International Affairs at Astan Quds Razavi, author Ahmed Abdulmalik, director of Dar Nebras Qatar publishing house, and Nasser Abu Sharif, representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Iran.
Speakers unveiled the book “The Sufferings of Gaza,” which presents short narratives accompanied by images that depict the hardships of life under siege in Gaza.
Hoj. Esfandiari emphasized the role of literature in supporting the resistance, stating that intellectual awareness is essential for countering media distortion. “Palestine is the foremost concern of the Islamic world, and negligence on this issue leads to the humiliation of the Muslim community”.
Ahmed Abdulmalik highlighted that his book aims to document field realities and raise global awareness about Palestinian suffering.
“Resistance literature is a tool as powerful as weapons in battle, capable of delivering truths to a worldwide audience”, he described.
The author explained that “The Sufferings of Gaza” is his fiftieth publication, written in the format of short stories using rarely seen images from Palestine. “I was inspired by literary figures such as Ernest Hemingway and Naguib Mahfouz”.
Elsewhere, Nasser Abu Sharif stressed: “Resistance literature is a strategic tool for exposing Israeli crimes and increasing public awareness”.
He criticized the dominance of Western media and described Gaza as a symbol of human suffering. “Global protests in support of Palestine are on the rise, particularly among young people in Europe and the U.S., reflecting a growing awareness of Palestinian struggles”.
The 36th Tehran International Book Fair continues until May 17 under the theme “Read for Iran.”
Behnashr has actively participated in this year’s exhibition, presenting 835 titles across more than 60,000 printed copies in both children's and adult literature sections.