NEWSBITE 17.2.2026
The Damascus International Book Fair took place from February 5 to February 15, 2026 held on the Damascus Fairgrounds, approximately 10 miles from the city centre with literature from over 500 publishing houses from around.
This event marked the first international book fair in Damascus since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime. The current Syrian regime of the self-appointed President Abu Mohammad al-Julani showcased the most extreme Islamic literature with writers praising the Islamic State, AL Qaeda, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood sold en masse.
In Syria no book is banned and there is no censorship of books entering in through land and seaports. All books are permitted and are displayed on book shelves except for those that are at odds with civil peace, social cohesion, or that oppose and violate the constitutional declaration of the President of the Republic (al-Julani) by glorifying the former regime or that violate the values and customs of Syrian society.
One may ask; “Does the ‘values’ and ‘customs’ of the new regime exclude Christian and Biblical literature?
The Damascus International Book Fair, saw a wider range of titles available, including previously banned religious texts. However, concerns remain among Christian communities in Syria about the potential impact of the new Islamist government on religious freedoms and the overall safety of Christians in the country.
Teachings of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood are very popular amongst Syrians under the new regime, including Sayyid Qutb, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood who advocated violent offensive Jihad against the west in particular, and the realization of Islamist dominance around the world at large. All of his published books are in high demand.
The Book Fair itself attracted many school children and student living in Syria who actually walked through one bookstore chanting Jihadist proclamations including “Gaza is our Motto” which was referring to the bloody path taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023 against Israel.
Books such as “Al Aqsa Flood; An end to the (Israeli) illusion” which promotes Jihad against Israel, and “The Shadow Prince” explaining how to establish terror cells to perpetrate Jihad against the west; and the book “Death, Slaughter and Dead” which promotes sacrificing oneself for the purpose of advancing Jihad, were among the thousands of books promoted at the Damascus International Book Fair, which was officially sponsored by the Damascus Ministry of Culture, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
There is an alignment of Islamic nations that western politicians seem to not see or do not want to see where Islam is uniting against the west. Even President Trump does not seem to recognise this fact. Also these nations are forming a ring of fire around Israel.
President Trump’s inclusion of avowedly pro-Islamist, pro-terrorist countries such as Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan in his so-called “Board of Peace” has all the potential thoroughly to undermine the American leader’s peace initiative in Gaza.
“Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan still refuse formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Qatar also has a documented history of funding virtually every Islamist terror group then, when conflicts flare up, offering to serve as the supposedly “impartial” mediator. Qatar is at the top of funding terrorism worldwide, even more than Iran.
Turkey, meanwhile, has taken the perverse decision to intensify its support for Hamas in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks. As for Hamas; they will not lay down their weapons, and the Iranian regime is not willing to relinquish their uranium enrichment programme, or stop developing their missile capabilities.
The one thing that the majority of the Islamic world has in common is their hatred of Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu has no illusions about Turkey, Qatar and the current Syrian government’s support of Jihadist terror groups.
The persona they present to the west is one of wanting peace and unity in the Middle-East and to be negotiators, however, they want it according to Islamic ideology.
Clearly at the Damascus International Book Fair the message is very clear. The Regime of the self-appointed President Abu Mohammad al-Julani is to promote Jihad and the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood.
He may well have swapped his army fatigues for a suit and a tie but there is no doubt that as he practices the art of taqiyya he can somehow rub shoulders with, and give handshakes to, western political leaders while presenting the expertise of a chameleon.
Of course he and his regime are backed by President Erdogan of Turkey and a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Whether it is Syria, Qatar, Iran, the terrorist groups in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen or Hamas in Gaza, they all have one common goal being the destruction of Israel, America and the Islamization of the western democracies, a goal in line with the fundamental ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Damascus International Book Fair with its Jihadist anti-Israel, anti-west literature is indicative of the much deeper sinister motives behind Islamic subterfuge when dealing with Western governments, namely a global caliphate.
It may well come about that President Trump’s aspirations to have a Board of Peace will come to fruition; however, it will not last, as there can be no lasting peace in this world until the Prince of Peace returns to sit on David’s throne at Jerusalem, to bring with Him true peace, justice and righteousness on earth and to establish His Messianic Kingdom! (Isaiah 9:6-7). Selah.
