Stray bullet injures anti-festive firing advocate

AMMAN – An activist campaigning against the practice of festive firing in the streets of the capital was hit by a random bullet on Sunday and is now recovering in hospital. 

Rakan Shurbaji is part of a campaign dubbed “Do Not Kill My Happiness,” launched with the aim of spreading awareness among people about the dangerous consequences of shooting during celebrations.   

While distributing posters to educate people about the campaign and its objectives, his shoulder was injured by a stray bullet. 

Shurbaji was transferred to a local public hospital, where he is in stable condition and receiving medical treatment for his wounds, he told The Jordan Times over the phone on Tuesday. 

Jihad Al Shaikh, the initiator of “Do Not Kill My Happiness,” noted that the incident will further encourage the group to keep working on the campaign.   

“We were encouraged to launch the initiative, which is sponsored by the Loyalty and Belonging Assembly, due to the growing number of festive firing incidents,” he said. 

The campaign also aims to motivate people to boycott celebrations and weddings that feature festive firing. 

“We began by distributing posters outside Al Husseini Mosque and people reacted well to the idea,” Shaikh noted. 

He said members of the campaign focused on areas that witness a lot of shooting during weddings and social occasions. 

Shurbaji explained that he decided to take part in the campaign because incidents like these represent a growing threat to people’s lives. His own shooting has only strengthened his resolve to spread awareness.

“I learned that four people who were also injured by festive shooting are receiving treatment at this hospital,” the 25-year-old said.

Shaikh said the group plans to launch further campaigns that address other life-threatening social trends. 

“We will soon start work on another initiative to warn people about drugs and the consequences of regular drug use,” he noted.