Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh announced on Sunday that the town of Hamoud in Karak Governorate has been selected as the Jordanian City of Culture for 2027.
اضافة اعلان
The announcement came during the launch of the 20th edition of the Jordanian Family Library Project – Reading for All Festival, held at the Hamoud Charitable Society under the theme “A Library for Every Home.” The event carried a national and cultural message centered on honoring the town’s martyrs and expressing solidarity with its residents.
Speaking at the ceremony, attended by residents of Hamoud, Karak and other governorates, as well as government and cultural figures, Al-Rawashdeh said the selection of Hamoud recognizes its place in Jordan’s national memory, its educational and cultural history, and the contributions of its people to Jordanian society.
He said the decision also reflects the belief that culture is a key pillar in raising national awareness and strengthening the values of citizenship, tolerance and pluralism.
Al-Rawashdeh added that the Ministry of Culture will implement a comprehensive cultural program in Hamoud next year. The program will include opening a new library, establishing a Culture Street, launching the Hamoud Prize for Arabic Fiction, and erecting a memorial documenting the town’s history and commemorating the sacrifices of its people.
He said the initiatives are intended to strengthen Hamoud’s cultural and national presence, celebrate its heritage and prominent figures, and provide younger generations with opportunities to engage with the town’s history and cultural legacy.
The minister stressed that selecting Hamoud comes following the painful events the town experienced and represents the state and Jordanian society’s solidarity with its residents. He said it also reflects confidence in the ability of culture, knowledge and awareness to confront extremism and hatred, preserve social cohesion and promote peaceful coexistence.
Al-Rawashdeh noted that Hamoud has a distinguished educational and cultural history worthy of recognition. He recalled how local residents, more than a century ago, took the initiative to build a school through their own funds and efforts, making it available to their children as well as children from neighboring villages.
He also highlighted the town’s literary and cultural figures, particularly Arab novelist Ghalib Halasa, who made a significant contribution to the development of Arabic fiction.
The Minister of Culture said launching the Jordanian Family Library Project from Hamoud carries a message that goes beyond opening a national reading initiative. He said books and knowledge represent Jordanians’ choice in confronting ignorance and extremism, stressing that culture is not a luxury but a right for every citizen and a shared national responsibility.
He added that distributing the project’s publications free of charge to participants in the launch event as a dedication to the souls of Hamoud’s martyrs embodies the values of loyalty and solidarity and affirms that books remain a message of life, hope, knowledge and tolerance.
Al-Rawashdeh said the Jordanian Family Library Project is one of the country’s national cultural initiatives aimed at promoting reading and expanding access to books. It allows families, students and young people to purchase a variety of publications at symbolic prices, helping enrich home libraries and strengthen the role of knowledge in daily life.
He noted that the project provides readers, students, researchers and those interested in culture with opportunities to explore diverse publications and discover new titles that broaden their knowledge, support lifelong learning and strengthen the role of culture in building an aware society capable of keeping pace with intellectual and knowledge-based developments.
Al-Rawashdeh called on families, students and young people to visit authorized display and sales centers across the Kingdom from November 1 to November 5 and benefit from publications catering to different age groups.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between families and educational and cultural institutions in encouraging children and young people to read and making reading part of everyday life.
He affirmed that, within the national vision led by King Abdullah II, the Ministry of Culture will continue expanding access to knowledge, protecting national identity and promoting moderation, citizenship and openness, contributing to a cohesive society that embraces dialogue and respects differences.
Al-Rawashdeh began his speech by observing a minute of silence and reciting Al-Fatiha for the souls of the martyrs of Jordan, the Arab and Islamic nation, and Hamoud. He said the wound suffered by the town was a wound in the heart of Jordan as a whole, stressing that the values of belonging, citizenship and fraternity that unite Jordanians are stronger than attempts to spread hatred and division.
He noted that King Abdullah II, Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II had stood at the heart of the tragedy and made a point of offering condolences to the town’s residents and standing by them, reflecting the principle that the pain of Hamoud’s residents is the pain of all Jordan.
For his part, Dr. Salem Al-Dahham, director of the Jordanian Family Library Project, said selecting Hamoud to launch the project’s activities carries deep national and cultural significance and reflects the town’s place and history in the country’s development.
He said books and knowledge provide a window to life and hope, adding that societies that open their doors to culture protect their young people from isolation and extremism.
Al-Dahham added that Hamoud has historically produced examples of sacrifice and belonging, with its residents contributing to the defense of Jordan and the preservation of its dignity. He said celebrating reading from the town represents a message of loyalty to its history and people and demonstrates the continuing role of culture in building individuals and strengthening national identity.
Fares Halasa, chairman of the Hamoud Heritage Revival Society, expressed the town’s pride in hosting the launch of the Jordanian Family Library Project – Reading for All Festival.
In remarks delivered on behalf of local residents, he said the initiative carries national, humanitarian and cultural significance and demonstrates the solidarity of the Jordanian family with Hamoud’s residents while honoring their sacrifices and history.
He added that Hamoud, whose residents have believed in education and learning for more than a century and whose people have made sacrifices for Jordan and its dignity, will remain committed to the values of belonging and peaceful coexistence.
He said choosing books and culture as the theme of this stage reflects a determination to embrace life and hope and to hold firmly to knowledge in the face of ignorance and hatred.
Halasa praised the positions of King Abdullah II, Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II and their support for the town’s residents. He also expressed the community’s appreciation to the Ministry of Culture and its minister for launching the project from Hamoud and selecting it as Jordan’s City of Culture for 2027, saying the decision lays the foundation for a new cultural chapter that will strengthen the town’s presence on the national scene.
The Ministry of Culture announced the authorized display and sales centers for the Jordanian Family Library Project – Reading for All Festival across the Kingdom, with the aim of facilitating citizens’ access to books and publications and allowing families, students and young people to benefit from the initiative.
The project will continue through November 5 as part of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to promote reading, expand access to books and reinforce their role in building awareness and preserving national identity.
Source: Al-Ghad
