The director of the poetry session at the Babylon Festival of Cultures and Arts, Anmar Mardan, emphasized today, Thursday, the importance of holding poetry readings in open spaces, as they provide opportunities to enhance communication between literature and various segments of society, away from closed halls.
Mardan stated in a statement followed by the News Video Agency that the Babylon Festival represents an important cultural experience, noting his participation in it since its first session within the preparatory committees and session management, and affirming that holding events at the historic Nannamak Temple adds aesthetic and cultural dimensions to the poetic experience.
He added that the session included the participation of poets from Spain, Canada, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iraq, along with poets from Babylon, indicating that the diversity of participants contributed to presenting different literary and cultural experiences, while the historical venue provided a unique atmosphere that will remain in the poets' memories.
Mardan, who heads the Union of Writers and Poets of Babylon, emphasized the necessity of moving literary activities from closed halls to open spaces, to give various segments of society the opportunity to engage with poetry, taking into account the nature of the audience and presenting texts capable of reaching diverse groups.
In the context of his literary experience, he mentioned the release of his first poetry collection "When is Death a Marginal Note" in 2016, pointing out that some of his texts have been transformed into Iraqi theatrical works.
For her part, Palestinian poet Ibtisam Abu Saada described the poetic debate at the festival as a rich experience in cultural diversity, affirming that poetry allows for understanding the cultures of peoples and their national, social, and feminist issues.
Abu Saada praised the Babylonian audience, describing them as discerning and attentive listeners to poetry, expressing her pride in visiting Iraq and exploring its historical monuments, especially those of Babylon, in addition to visiting the shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and the holy city of Karbala.
The Palestinian poet revealed her work on a cultural project focused on popular culture, which includes collecting proverbs and traditional tales passed down through generations, aiming to preserve them and transmit them to children and grandchildren.