Updated 12.33pm with Heritage Malta statement

Plans to hold an electronic music event at the megalithic Mnajdra temples appear to have been altered after they provoked a furious reaction and a petition against turning the temples into a 'party venue'.

The event featuring Glasgow-based DJ Denis Sulta is being organised in conjunction with Heritage Malta and, according to advertising, was to be held at the temples in front of 60 guests.

Co-organisers District Malta also offered music fans the chance to win a space on the guest list if they bought tickets to a different performance by the DJ.

However, the announcement for the event on September 4 caused outrage, prompting Heritage Malta to issue a statement insisting there would be "no audience" and the temples would only be used as "an immaculate backdrop".

It said the event would take place outside the UNESCO World Heritage site, that there would be no access to the temples and that sound levels and lighting would be restricted.

"Only DJ Denis Sulta will be performing music to an immaculate backdrop of the sun setting over Mnajdra Temples, streamed live on the internet."

The petition to stop the event was set up on Wednesday within hours of a Facebook post advertising it. By Thursday afternoon, it had attracted almost 1,000 signatures, including from Labour MEP candidate Cyrus Engerer, a former consultant to the Prime Minister.

What is happening at Mnajdra?

Organisers District Malta had announced the event in a Facebook post on Wednesday, telling their followers they had "something (pre) historic up our sleeves".

It said they had teamed up with one of the biggest electronic dance media houses, Mixmag, to host the set in front of 60 people and streamed online.

They originally offered the chance to win eight free tickets for anyone who bought a ticket to another performance by the DJ. The post was later edited to remove the reference to the chance to win a ticket.

In the original post they wrote: "We've got something (pre)historic up our sleeves. District shall host an intimate sunset gathering at Mnajdra Temples Heritage Malta for sixty selected guests… These megalithic temples are over 5,000 years old. That's older than me, you, Stonehenge, and the Great Pyramids of Giza.

"We’re have 8 spots on the guest list up for grabs. Buy a ticket to District • wk010 ft Denis Sulta 3HR set [Fri 30 Aug] for your chance to win.

"4 winners will be chosen at random. Each winner will be given a +1. Winners will be announced on Tues 27th Aug."

What was the reaction?

The announcement sparked anger online. "You guys clearly don’t understand the first thing about prehistoric temples and sacred sites," wrote Vanessa Coleiro under the post.

Another commentator, Jean Carl Grech, warned that it "creates a dangerous precedent of transforming our heritage sites in party venues." 

However others argued that it was a good way to raise awareness of the treasured landmark. 

Maltese DJ Joven Grech described it as a "very good way to indirectly promote our heritage" and "a great marketing opportunity to promote our temples with the younger generations across the world". 

By Thursday afternoon almost a thousand people had signed a petition calling on Heritage Malta to "retract the permission for the event".

"Desecration of any temple site - regardless of which faith it belongs to, is despicable, and our heritage deserves to be treated with more respect than serving as a party hall." 

What does Heritage Malta say?

Heritage Malta reacted early on Thursday afternoon, saying the event would not be taking place "within the Mnajdra Temples but outside the site".

"It will not be a party, but simply a recording not longer than an hour," it said.

"The Unesco World Heritage Site is only being used as a backdrop during a one hour live streaming event by Mixmag; a worldwide known electronic dance and clubbing media brand which has around 1.2 million followers on YouTube and 1.6 million followers on Facebook."

It said restrictions had been made on the organizers, "including the level and type of sound and the type of lights which can be used during this event in order to safeguard the temples".

"There will be no access to Mnajdra Temples at any time," it continued.

"There will be no audience for this event. Only DJ Denis Sulta will be performing music to an immaculate backdrop of the sun setting over Mnajdra Temples streamed live on the internet."

Karl Gouder, opposition spokesman for Culture, congratulated all those who spoke out against the event. "Common sense prevails," he said after Heritage Malta released its statement. 

Heritage Malta was in hot water in July when it advertised Fort St Angelo's historic bastions as "unique advertising space" on Facebook. The post was taken down after criticism from the Culture Minister. 

Has an event like this happened before?

Mnajdra Temples are not the first stone-age structures used for a DJ set.  In 2018 DJs Carl Cox and Paul Oakenfold played in front of 50 selected guests at Stonehenge. 

However, there were some differences. Firstly, all the money raised from the event went to English Heritage.

Also, because of English Heritage's concerns that the event could turn into a rave, the date of the performance was kept as a secret.