Jabal Al Naser community members sign pact to curb festive firing

AMMAN — Jabal Al Naser’s local council on Saturday released a “pact of honour” to put a stop to the practice of festive firing.

In the pact, launched in a ceremony held at Al Naser Sports Club, signatories pledged not to fire celebratory gunshots at all public, private and social occasions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The signatories, who are members of the east Amman area’s local community, also said they will leave festivities where gunshots are fired for celebration and will not help or mediate for those involved in festive firing.

They called on all Jordanians to fight this phenomenon and to stop the loss of innocent lives, Petra reported.

Mahmoud Kibawi, father of an 11-year-old boy who died as a result of festive firing near his doorstep two months ago, called for stopping this “bad habit” and holding those involved accountable, stressing the role local residents can play in combating the practice by boycotting events where guns are fired, according to Petra.

Mohammad Abed, a member of the area’s local council, said using guns in festive occasions has caused a lot of harm to society, expressing hope this initiative can achieve its goal in ending the phenomenon.

Muslim preacher Diaa Awaisheh praised the pact and its message, stressing the importance of changing local customs to curb this habit that has taken lives and caused severe injuries to many others, Petra reported.

Earlier this month, residents of Zarqa, 22km east of Amman, signed a similar pact against festive firing.

In the document, the residents pledged to bolster their efforts against the phenomenon and ensure that the law takes its course against perpetrators.

Late last week, the Public Security Department’s (PSD) radio, Amen FM, posted on its Facebook page that a teenager was injured in the head by a stray bullet in a festive firing incident in Amman’s Hussein Camp.

The radio station said the girl was in critical condition.

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

A total of 21 cases have been registered this year against anonymous assailants, where shooters could not be identified, according to the PSD.