A collection of articles presented in Iran-Iraq Cultural Relations Conference is released in a book by Library, Museum and Document Center of Majlis.

IBNA: Last May a conference was held on cultural and historical relations between Iran and Iraq with emphasis on common cultural foundations and affinities during which Iraqi scholars and researchers presented their articles on the subject. 

“Alsalat Alsaqafia Bayn Al-Iraq wa Iran” is the title of the recently published collection of articles by Library, Museum and Documents Center of Islamic Parliament of Iran (Majlis). 

According to Rasoul Jafarian, director of Majlis Library, the conference was held on May 3, 2011 at the ex-Majlis building located at Baharestan Sq. during which about a hundred Iraqi researchers presented their articles. 

“The main goal of this conference was to make a survey of historical-cultural ties of Iran and Iraq that had been somehow shattered during Saddam’s reign. Propagation of radical nationalism and emphasis on Arabism by Baas party had led to enmity with Shia Iranians and damaged linguistic, historical, and cultural affinities of the two countries. These connections are much beyond political borderlines especially due to Iranians’ zest for pilgrimage of the shrines of their Imams (the clan of the holy prophet) that are located in Iraq,” he explained. 

“Besides, more than a thousand years of transportation between the lands had made the Baas Regime to put Iran-Iraq fraction high on its agenda. The eight-year war intensified the enmity, but we see that immediately after the Baas downfall, the nations began to reconnect.” 

In the meantime, it is the duty of scholars and historians to pay attention to cultural and historical ties of the nations and make grounds for more interaction and avoid political influence over culture. “Although we did not plan to ask for Arabic presentations, the Iraqi invitees volunteered for presenting their articles and showed great interest in the conference,” Jafarian added in the introduction. 

The book also includes an introduction by Dr Nasir Kaabi.
“Alsalat Alsaqafia Bayn Al-Iraq wa Iran” is published in 928 pages by Majlis Library Press.

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