Rabat – The opening days of the International Book and Publishing Measure Measure of Morocco (Siel) brought together a constellation of influential figures. From renowned authors to prominent lawyers, the participants of the fair were able to think about the developing cultural and literary landscapes of the country.
With more than 775 exhibitors who represent 51 countries, this groundbreaking edition of Siel Rabat puts the foreground of international literature exchange. The event shows over 100,000 titles and not only offers a scaling, but also a rich experience that is rooted in authenticity, depth and exploration.
The Fairy-Fair-Fair-Fair-Fair efforts, which is oriented towards the Morocco Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in cooperation with the Rabat Sale-Kénitra region and the city of Rabat, are aimed at the broader efforts to establish the capital as a cultural center that continues to build up in 2026 as a UNESCO World Book Capital of the UNESCO.
A noble cause
The current figures in this year’s edition include Driss El Yazami, President of the Council of the Moroccan Community abroad (CCME) and former head of the Morocco National Council of Human Rights.
El Yazami’s work is known for his lifelong activism and continues to bridge human rights concerns with questions of identity, diaspora and intellectual engagement.
During an interview with Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of this year’s Siels, El Yazami was reflected beyond the cultural importance of the fair and the permanent presence of Moroccan literature beyond her borders.
“Since I first came to the book fair in Casablanca in the early 2000s in Casablanca, I was always impressed by the participation of the public, especially the children,” he said. “Some people are disturbed from it, but for me the children who touch books, even if they cannot afford to buy them, always brought me joy.”
El Yazami described the fair as “a great cultural celebration”, which also swings when only a few books are bought. “The act of touching a book that is alone is essential.” He praised the growing international presence of Moroccan writers and found that “the Moroccan novel is now written in Arabic, Amazigh, French, Kastilian, Catalan, German and Italian”. This year’s edition of recognizing the Moroccans living abroad reflects this diversity.
El Yazami dealt with the general decline in reading and called for a national and collective reaction. “The promotion of reading is of course the responsibility of public institutions and schools,” he said, “but it is also due to the local communities and each of us.” He also emphasized how important it is to inspire role models for young readers: “When Leïla Slimani won the Prix Goncourt, many young Moroccan writers around the world inspired it. We need characters who inspire us.”
El Yazami’s presence at Siel notes that the long -term role of the fair as a platform for cultural self -observation, where literature hits the public area and the discussions go beyond the side to use historical memory and collective futures.
The open day of the fair was also the famous Moroccan poet and writer Abdellatif Laâbi. Laâbi’s work in Moroccan literature has shaped the work of authors and readers within Morocco and abroad.
The recipient of numerous international literary awards, his poems and prose continues to question, exile and the permanent strength of the written word.
Laâbi spoke to Morocco World News (MWN) about the interface of literature and global tragedies and concentrated in particular on the genocide in Gaza.
Laâbi reflected on the emotional effects of the events and explained: “What motivated me to work with Yassine Adnan on the poetry of the Gaza Strip was the tragedy with which this part of the Palestinian people in Gaza was confronted last year. In the first weeks and months. I didn’t know what to do.” He described the struggle to find the right words to express the deep grief, and gave: “I couldn’t write what happened as a poet.”
Instead, Laâbi and Adnan focused on strengthening the voices of Palestinian poets who lived first -hand genocide. “The only idea that came to us was to hear the poet’s voices,” said Laâbi. They selected 26 Palestinian poets, many of whom were difficult to reach due to the terrible conditions in the Gaza. “It was a real guerrilla fight that we had to carry out to maintain the connection and maintain the texts,” he said, noticing the efforts it took to collect their work and translate them in French and Arabic for publication.
In Siel, who has long served as a platform for global discussions about literature, Laa’s work recalled the participants that the role of literature is not only to celebrate culture, but to react to the most urgent humanitarian disaster in the world.
Laâbi’s contributions to this year’s trade fair noticed how important resistance is, a thread that goes through a large part of his oeuvre, from his early activism to his contemporary considerations about spirituality and humanity.
Books for everyone
The fair also attracted thousands of readers and book enthusiasts from all over the country. For many, Siel remains an annual tradition and an estimated space of literary discovery. Walid Hmain, an Arabic teacher and passionate reader, was the first visitors on the opening day.
“I came here today to get a lot of books as you can see,” he said and held up a stack of his new treasures. He praised the overall experience and commented on the inviting atmosphere: “The service is good, everyone is nice.”
With such a positive experience, Walid already has plans for the fair next year: “I can’t wait to do it again next year.” His words show the excitement and good energy that Siel continues to inspire by his visitors, which makes them a must for book lovers and cultural enthusiasts.
The coming week is said to be filled with panel discussions, workshops and debates, in which a wide range of topics are examined, by Moroccan and international literature on writing women in Morocco, the challenges of publication, poetry and literary contributions from the Moroccan Dispora. The fair also makes room for Gaza Strip and notices the role of words as a form of resistance to the genocide.
In the further course of the fair it is expected that discussions with authors, publishers and cultural figures deal with urgent topics that range from the freedom of expression to the role of literature in times of crisis. With voices like El Yazami and Laâbi in the foreground, Siel again confirms his role not only as a marketplace of books, but as an important meeting point for dialogue and reflection.
