Iran, Iraq forge cultural ties to promote non-violence, counter Western influences on youth
Iraqi officials visited Iran’s Institute for the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA), signaling a commitment to collaborate on initiatives aimed at fostering creativity and non-violent messages among youth.
During the visit, Tamir Muhammad Mukhlis, Deputy of the Iraqi Children’s Institute, expressed readiness to deepen cultural and artistic cooperation with Iran. He was joined by a delegation that included notable figures such as Amir Alireza, head of the Theater and Music Department, and Bassam, a children’s book translator, among others, Mehr News Agency reported.
The group toured various facilities, including the reference library and cinematographic workshops at the Iranian institute. Mohammad Reza Karimi Saremi, the Deputy for Production at the Iranian institute, outlined its long-standing mission to promote reading among children. Established over six decades ago, the institute now operates 1,040 cultural centers across the country, offering around 60 activities such as storytelling, painting, and filmmaking. To date, it has produced more than 3,000 titles of children’s literature and boasts a collection of 12 million books.
He further elaborated on the institute’s cinematic achievements, revealing that it has created over 600 films—including shorts, features, and animations—garnering more than 3,000 awards in both domestic and international arenas.
“Our theater division has produced over 500 plays, winning numerous accolades,” he said.
Highlighting the institute’s unique position, Karimi Saremi noted the absence of a similar organization in Iran.
He mentioned the Language Institute, which offers courses in nine languages and serves over 400,000 students each academic year. Revenue is generated through this center, film sales, and government support.
The cultural exchange also included discussions on potential joint productions, leveraging the shared heritage between Iran and Iraq. “We believe that children across the globe, due to their innocence, deserve access to joyful stories,” Karimi Saremi added, emphasizing the importance of making their stories available to Iraqi children.