Husband, son of MP turn themselves in over festive firing case

AMMAN — The husband and son of a deputy who allegedly fired live ammunition during a wedding in Naour last week turned themselves in on Tuesday, MP Naayem Eiadat and officials said.

“My 49-year-old husband and 21-year-old son went willingly to the police station on Tuesday after learning that there was a subpoena against them,” Eiadat said.

The pair also handed officers on duty the weapon allegedly used in the shooting incident, Eiadat told The Jordan Times.

On Saturday, police said they were searching for them after a video of a wedding reception went viral showing the two men firing live rounds during the festivity.

“We did not know that they were wanted until the head of the Naour police station called to inform me of that,” Eiadat, an Amman deputy who won her seat through the women’s quota, said.

The lawmaker stressed that she was against festive shooting and that “we are all below the law.”

“They are both in prison for the time being until further investigation,” Eiadat added.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani told The Jordan Times on Tuesday that the pair were ordered detained at a detention centre for one week.

At a meeting on Sunday with dignitaries representing Amman communities, His Majesty King Abdullah stressed that no one is above the law. “Even if it were my son who is shooting… I would ask security bodies to take the same measures against him.”

Last week, the PSD announced stiff measures against violators, including locking up any groom whose wedding includes festive shooting.

Last week, the Public Security Department (PSD) announced stiff measures against violators, including locking up any groom whose wedding includes festive shooting.

The PSD pledged to conduct campaigns in various governorates and arrest any person who owns a gun without a licence and/or arrest people who fire weapons on any occasion, and individuals who sell weapons and ammunition for this purpose.

According to official figures released last October, three people were killed and 41 injured by festive firing in 2014.

At least 21 cases were registered last year against anonymous assailants, where shooters could not be identified, according to the PSD.