Iraq – Iraqi’s oldest publishing houses encounter government negligence

After many years of Iraqi and Arab intellectuals being interested in the House of Cultural Affairs because of its legacy and publication by great writers and intellectuals, today it suffers from negligence and disappearance in its facilities, offices, and halls, due to the lack of government’s fund. The Director-General of the House of General Cultural Affairs, Aref Al-Saadi, stated that after 2003 its funding system switched from central to self-reliant, affecting its printing production ability. He pointed out that this house specialized in publishing official books, curricula, and everything related to government activities, noting that the private sector’s presence had a negative influence on the institution’s operation.