The ruler of the sheikhdom of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan Al-Qasimi inaugurated on Wednesday the 33rd Sharjah international book fair (SIBF), with the participation of 1,256 publishing houses from 59 countries, one of the largest literature fairs in the Arab world.

Dr. Sheikh Sultan, a staunch supporter of Arabic culture and poet himself, opened the fair by expressing poetic words, saying " Truth and Virtue are two great books on earth surrounded by destruction." He added that "he works hard to dispel these dark clouds so that the light of truth and virtue may shine through books."

The director-general of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Abdulaziz Bin Othman Al-Tuwaijri delivered a speech of this year's guest of honor, a title granted to the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its contribution to culture in the Islamic and Arab world.

Sheikh Sultan also honored the 11 winners of the SIBF awards 2014. Among them was in the category best foreign book, nonfiction Youssef Islam aka Cat Stevens for his book "Why I Still Carry a Guitar?". The 11-day SIBF in the Expo center Sharjah will run through November 15. Endi