Baghdad’s first female bookseller breaks barriers

 BAGHDAD — Along one of Baghdad’s oldest streets, a new bookstore is making waves — not for the titles it sells but for who owns it.

Bara’a Abdul Hadi Mudher al-Biyati is the first woman to run a shop and publishing house on al-Muntanabbi Street, home to the Iraqi capital’s historic book market.

Named after a 10th century Iraqi poet, al-Muntanabbi Street is the literary heart of the city, and until recently, its bookshops and stalls have been run by men only.

“I didn’t think at all of how others would look at me,” said al-Biyati, a 29-year-old who wears red lipstick and nail polish, as well as Western clothing. “I was only thinking of the fact that I am achieving something when I convince someone to buy a book from me."

Like many of her contemporaries in the West, al-Biyati started her career with an unpaid internship of sorts.




Source : nbcnews