Local

AMMAN – Comical depictions of hashish smokers in jokes and movies have contributed to altering the way society views hashish abuse, according to experts. 

Similar to nationals of other Arab countries, Jordanians often tell jokes making light of hashish abuse, depicting smokers as funny, indifferent, happy and sarcastic, experts said.

"These attributes make weed smokers seem like cool people. Jokes, movies and TV dramas are encouraging young people to give hashish a try," Jordan Anti-Drugs Society (JADS) President Musa Dawood told The Jordan Times on Wednesday. 

A story about a hashish smoker in Amman went viral on news website this week under the headline "The dumbest hashish abuser in Amman". 

Although the incident was "fabricated", it was circulated and perceived as a funny occurrence. 

News websites have claimed that the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) received a tip-off from a family who continued to find hashish cigarette butts on their balcony. 

When the department staff reached the place, they found the person who allegedly was throwing the cigarettes looking at them from the window of his apartment. 

An AND representative denied this story, but noted that it represents a "common" phenomenon.

"Although this incident in particular did not take place, it is very common. Smoking hashish is on the rise and it has become ordinary for some to come out as hashish abusers," Lt. Ayman Sarayreh of AND told The Jordan Times on Thursday. 

Dawood agreed, noting that stereotypes associated with hashish smokers are making people "bolder" in announcing their willingness to smoke it or support to those who do. 

Hashish consists of the THC-rich resinous material of the cannabis plant, commonly called marijuana. 

The resin is dried and then compressed into various shapes, such as balls, cakes or cookie-like sheets. 

Pieces are then broken off, placed in pipes or rolled as cigarettes and smoked, according to web sources.

The JADS president said that those caught smoking hashish are detained for 14 days and then referred to the State Security Court, which sentences them to no less than three months in prison and fines them.

In previous remarks, he said that around 450 university students were known to be drug abusers in 2015, recording a 20 per cent increase over three years, adding that the rate of drug use among students has witnessed an increase over the past 10 years. 

In a lecture in Irbid earlier this week, AND Director Brig. Gen. Anwar Tarawneh said Jordan is still seen as a corridor country for drugs, with drug abusers only constituting 1 per cent of the population.

Citing UN studies, Tarawneh said that drug abuse in Jordan is not a phenomenon, despite the increase in smuggling attempts due to regional unrest, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Last year, he noted, 1,216 people were treated at AND's rehabilitation centre for drug users, while the department's agents arrested 340 hashish users, 290 narcotic pill users, 162 heroin users, 555 synthetic cannabis users, one cocaine user and 31alcoholics.

Those arrested were sent to the correctional and rehabilitation centre affiliated with AND and received treatment for their addiction, according to Tarawneh.

AMMAN — Although the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has announced several projects to be implemented this year with the aim of resolving traffic issues, Ammanis interviewed by The Jordan Times on Thursday hold little hope that these projects will actually curb traffic jams in their city. 

In a statement sent to The Jordan Times, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji said 2016 will be a year of managing traffic, with GAM's services to city residents expected to focus on this issue. 

GAM council said a number of intersections have been designed and tenders are ready to be floated so that residents can benefit from the JD43 million that GAM received recently from the government, the statement said. 

But Amman residents interviewed by The Jordan Times argued that more work has to be done to mitigate traffic jams.

Oqaba Faraj, a photographer, said the solutions announced by officials are usually only short-term. 

"The traffic lights which have been set up at the 7th and 8th circles alleviated traffic jams but did not end them, as the traffic congestion has moved to areas like Bayader. Abdoun Bridge also helped solve traffic jams in a specific area, but the problem has moved to other places in Abdoun," he said. 

Faraj argued that the main problem causing traffic jams in the capital is the lack of parking spaces. 

"When someone does not find a parking spot in a specific area, he/she is forced to park in a way that causes a traffic jam and makes the street narrow for motorists," he added.

Hussam Manasreh, a tailor, said commercial stores and restaurants are sometimes located all together on one street, making it difficult for motorists to drive. 

"So many restaurants are located on Medina Munawara Street and everyone heads there, so there is almost always a traffic jam on that road. Officials have to make revisions before handing licences to people," he said.  

According to Rabee Mohammad, a private sector employee, traffic projects will not help mitigate these issues because the number of vehicles is on the rise. 

"Every family has no less than two cars and this also increases traffic jams in the capital," he said. 

Official figures put the number of cars in Jordan, registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Department, at over 1.3 million, nearly 38 per cent of which are in the capital. 

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is planning to construct seven new parks this year expected to be ready by June, with around 20 to 30 courts suitable for practising sports, an official said on Thursday.

Mohammad Qteish, director of GAM’s public parks department, said there are around 140 public parks in the capital alone. 

“However, people still picnic on streets and in public areas,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Although GAM has launched many initiatives to raise awareness of proper picnic behaviour, many residents do not abide by the rules, according to Qteish.

“GAM has highlighted several actions by picnickers that impact the environment negatively,” he said. “Yet there are many families that still litter and ruin the public park facilities.”

Qteish noted that GAM urges picnickers no to litter, leave leftover food on the ground, leave fires lit, and smoke argileh (water pipe) inside the parks.

“It is important that families clean the place after they eat, since picnics are usually on Fridays and it is a holiday for the workers. Every Saturday the parks look like they have not been cleaned in ages,” he added.

The most popular picnic spots in the Kingdom include the King Hussein, National Amman, Ghamadan, Independence, Prince Hamzah, and Yaacoub Salti parks, according to Qteish.

Hussein Awamleh, a university student, said he likes to have picnics with his friends on Fridays if the weather is suitable for such activities.

“When the weather is sunny, we go to have fun in parks inside and around Amman. Sometimes they are overcrowded with families from all around the country,” he told The Jordan Times.

Awamleh said it has become a new trend for the younger generation to meet and gather in public parks to chat. 

Meanwhile, Saed Abu Khajeel, a father of four, said he seizes the opportunity provided by the weekend to spend time with his family.

“Family quality time is important… As a father who works until late hours, I often suggest to my family that we go out to parks either in east or west Amman,” he added. 

Abu Khajeel noted that although families are asked to clean up before they leave, most picnickers usually litter and leave waste behind them.

The east Amman resident said the parks are a good place for sports games, but authorities may need to introduce more facilities and football pitches before summer begins to meet demand.

AMMAN — The fifth edition of the Jordanian Film Days in Algeria are under way in Algiers, with three features on the screening list, according to the Royal Film Commission (RFC).

The screening programme includes two Jordanian narrative feature length films: the Academy Award-nominated “Theeb” by director Naji Abu Nowar, and “3000 Nights” by Mai Masri; in addition to the Jordanian documentary “The Council” by director Yahya Alabdallah.

The event opened on Wednesday with a screening of "“3000 Nights”, which tells the story of a young Palestinian school teacher who gives birth to her son in an Israeli prison, where she fights to protect him, survive and maintain hope, according to a statement released by the film's distributor, MAD Solutions.

"3000 Nights" recently won the Audience Award at the Annonay International Festival of First Films in France and the Jury Award at the Women's International Film and Television Showcase in the US, the distributor said in a statement. 

It also won the Meeting Point Audience Award at the 60th Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain, and had its premiere at the Toronto festival. 

The film had its US premiere at Palm Springs International Film Festival in California and competed at Busan International Film Festival in South Korea with "full-house screenings". 

The film had a theatrical release in Nablus, Palestine in January.

On Thursday, director Yahya Alabdallah's 93-minute documentary, "The Council", was screened. 

The film follows the journey of three young Palestinians running for the student council in a refugee school in Jordan, from announcing the election until the end of the academic year, according to MAD Solutions. 

The film won a Certificate of Appreciation at the Alexandria Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries, in addition to a Special Mention at the Dubai International Film Festival, the statement said. 

Alabdallah is a seven-time award-winning director and he was also nominated for 15 awards. "The Council" was supported by the Final Cut workshop at the Venice International Film Festival.

The film days conclude on Friday with a screening of "Theeb", Abu Nowar's first feature film, which he co-scripted with Bassel Ghandour. 

Set in the Arabian Desert of 1916, the film follows Theeb, a young bedouin boy, and his brother Hussein as they leave the safety of their tribe to venture on a treacherous journey at the dawn of the Great Arab Revolt. 

Recently, Abu Nowar and producer Robert Lloyd won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for Outstanding Debut by British Director or Producer and the film is also nominated for the Best Foreign-Language Film Award in the 88th Academy Awards. 

"Theeb" has been screened in 25 countries and received 19 international awards, including Best Director Award at Orizzonti (New Horizons) Competition after the film's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The film was released in the US and in 12 countries in the Arab world and Europe, and it is set to have a re-release in several Arab countries.

On the sidelines of the film days, the RFC and the Algerian Agency for Cultural Influence (AARC) signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday at the Cinematheque in Algiers.

Nada Doumani, acting for RFC General Manager George David and AARC secretary general, Nazih Bramadan signed the memo, according to an RFC statement.

"This step stems from the RFC’s and AARC’s desire to formalise the cinematic cooperation that the two institutions have developed since 2011," the statement said. 

The memo aims at enhancing the exchange of film experiences and expertise, as well as strengthening the partnership between the two countries in this area. 

AMMAN — Two Civil Defence Department (CDD) officers were injured while extinguishing a fire that erupted on Wednesday at the Maan Court of First Instance, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Thursday.

CDD Director Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi on Thursday visited the two officers, who are being treated at Al Hussein Medical City, and praised their efforts, noting that their injury did not prevent them from upholding their duty.

One of the officers is listed in fair condition and the other in good condition, according to the medical city doctors. 

AMMAN — The Princess Basma Centre for Human Development has announced the availability of 750 job opportunities in different sectors through the 10th recruitment fair at Al Hassan Youth City in Irbid, recruitment coordinator Tareq Shatnawi said on Thursday.

The jobs are available for all academic levels and graduates in the northern governorates of Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash, Shatnawi said, adding that interested candidates can apply for the jobs on Sunday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The fair will receive jobseekers between 9:30am and 5pm, and will provide opportunities to finance small projects through meetings between employers and financers, he added.

AMMAN — Municipal Affairs Minister Walid Masri and Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez on Thursday discussed implementing the blueprints of a project to revive Irbid's downtown area, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The project, which was first conceived in 2006, aims at conducting engineering studies to preserve the governorate's downtown and its cultural identity.

During their visit to Irbid, some 80km north of the capital, the two ministers stressed the importance of having a detailed study and blueprints to attract the necessary investments to start working on the project. 

AMMAN — A delegation from the Karamah Centre for Interfaith Coexistence in Sudan, in coordination with the Jordan Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre, on Thursday visited the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) to gain insight on its work.

Father Rifat Bader highlighted the importance of coexistence and accepting others, noting that all Abrahamic faiths promote human rights, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

NCHR Chief Commissioner Mousa Burayzat briefed the delegates on the centre’s experience in the human rights field, stressing that there are no issues related to freedom of religion in Jordan, Petra added.

AMMAN — The Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) and the Ministry of Labour on Thursday discussed ways to provide jobs for engineers in several sectors at public departments.

At a meeting with Labour Minister Nidal Katamine, JEA President Majid Tabaa thanked the ministry for cooperation to provide job opportunities and fight unemployment, according to a JEA statement.

AMMAN — The Jordan Field Hospital "Gaza 40" team on Thursday distributed assistance to the underprivileged residents of southern Gaza's Mighraqa area.

Hospital personnel distributed charity parcels to beneficiaries in line with a Royal makruma, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.