Police, community members working to curb festive firing

AMMAN — When Omar Adwan was preparing for his wedding last year, he specifically asked neighbours and friends not to resort to celebratory gunfire at the party. 

Adwan, who lives in Amman’s Shafa Badran suburb, an area known for festive firing, also set up banners at the wedding reading: “Do not embarrass yourself — do not shoot.” 

“I didn’t want to let my happiness become a sad occasion for others if their relatives are hit by a stray bullet. I wanted everyone to be happy when they attend my wedding,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Adwan is among many Jordanians calling for an end to the trend of festive firing.

Brig. Gen. Hamdi Hiyari, assistant to the Public Security Department (PSD) director for operations, said the PSD has launched a campaign to crack down on celebratory gunfire at social occasions, especially with the approach of summer and the wedding season, according to Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

He noted that PSD personnel will work hard to curb this trend in order to ensure public safety.

The iftaa department has also issued a fatwa (religious edict) urging people to abandon this practice because it disturbs the peace and harms others.

Adwan, a public sector employee, said guests at his wedding reacted positively to his initiative.

“I wanted to do this because the frequency of festive firing incidents is really high in areas like mine where there is a great tribal presence; I also wanted to send a message to the public,” he noted.

Adwan said many firearm sellers take advantage of these events to promote their businesses. 

“They start shooting using one of the weapons they sell as a promotion. I didn’t want to let people do that at my wedding,” he added. 

Jihad Al Shaikh, who is also working to end the phenomenon, initiated the “Do Not Kill My Happiness” campaign last year to raise awareness on the dangerous consequences of festive firing. 

“We worked hard during the campaign and used to visit every wedding we knew about, handing the groom roses with a small card containing advice against festive firing,” Shaikh told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

He said they put campaign activities on hold during winter since the number of social celebrations are limited compared to summer. 

“I call on security agencies to implement strict measures to put an end to this trend,” Shaikh added. 

Adwan also called for similar measures.

“The PSD could deploy several police patrols near major events to ensure the safety of visitors.” 

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.