Fourteen nations gather as regional initiative spotlights shared heritage

Iran has rejoined the international publishing community at Istanbul’s 42nd International Book Fair (13–21 December), marking a notable return to Europe’s largest literary marketplace.

The Iran Book and Literature House represents the Islamic Republic with 250 titles spanning classical and contemporary literature, poetry, Iranian studies, children’s publishing, and artistic works.

Turkic World Initiative Creates Regional Hub

This year’s “Turkic World” focus market unites publishers from Azerbaijan, Bashkortostan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Northern Cyprus, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, Turkmenistan, and Iraq – nations bound by linguistic and historical ties.

But wait, what? Tatarstan? Bashkortostan? Has Williams’ endearment to got him hallucinating too?

Actually they are two of many republics within the Russian Federation, another pariah state.

For Iranian publishers, the fair offers crucial access to copyright negotiations, bilateral partnerships, and the Grant Programme – a state initiative promoting translated Iranian works abroad.

For the Russian republics, some of the above.

Publishing Amid Political Complexity

Iran’s presence carries particular significance. International sanctions and currency instability have devastated its publishing sector, with paper costs soaring and foreign partnerships dwindling.

Yet Iranian publishers consistently attend Frankfurt, Beijing, and Beirut fairs, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Their Istanbul participation represents more than commerce – it’s cultural diplomacy through professional channels.

Edward Nawotka explored this a week or two ago. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/more-pirates-young-iranian-publishers-want-buy-your-book-nawotka-ngtse/

The Industry’s Ethical Imperative

For global publishing, this raises a critical question: when should professional solidarity transcend political disapproval?

The Istanbul fair’s model suggests engagement, not isolation, serves literature. Turkish organisers have consciously included Iranian colleagues despite geopolitical tensions, recognising that censorship and authoritarianism hurt publishers first.

Boycotting fellow professionals rarely punishes regimes – it merely severs the informal networks that sustain literary culture.

As the International Publishers Association has argued, maintaining dialogue with Iranian, Russian, or Chinese colleagues provides vital support to independent voices within those markets.

Istanbul’s approach demonstrates that acknowledging professional peers -even when condemning their governments – preserves the sinews of global literary exchange.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsletter.