ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Project Pen, a local initiative to promote literature and reading, rejected on Monday a local newspaper report that described its graffiti and artwork as "strange drawings by Satanic worshippers."

In response to a news brief published by the daily Ad-Dustour on Monday, Project Pen issued a statement saying that the staff writer of the article failed to contact the initiative organizers to clarify and fact check his findings.

The news report said that Ad-Dustour cited "strange drawings" on various walls in downtown Amman that contain "satanic and devil worshipping" references.

"The issue has become widespread with those who draw Satanic symbols with audacity and high technical details as evident in their continous wall drawings," the newspaper report said.

The report added that it has been noticed recently that "satanic" and "devil worshipping" symbols printed on clothing and accessories have become widespread and being worn by young Jordanians who do not know the connotation of these symbols.

Project Pen, which draws its logo as graffiti on various walls, said it contacted the newspaper and asked that it retracts the online version of the article, in addition to publishing an updated article that "accurately portrays the activities of Project Pen and partners over the past year."

The statement, entitled "Imagination Under Siege," rejected the contents of the new report, saying that instead of fact checking "calculated accusations were made without proof or correct information about a voluntary initiative that uses art and the power of the imagination to do something very simple - tell stories."

"The role of Project Pen is to promote reading and writing to a new generation, publish writers, and promote Jordanian and Middle Eastern literature worldwide. We have worked and continue to work with partners such as the EU and other institutions in Jordan to accomplish this end," the statement added.

"Project Pen will continue to enliven and imagine - online and offline, on the streets, in poetry, verse, video and word - in any way we can," the iniative added.