Two arrested for Tawjihi festive firing

AMMAN — A limited number of people were arrested on Monday due to festive firing after the release of Tawjihi results compared to the previous years, the Public Security Department (PSD) said on Tuesday. 

PSD Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said only two people were arrested in Amman over celebratory gunfire after the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) results were announced.

“Anyone can notice how limited the cases are this year because of the tough measures we take to combat this trend. We usually refer the cases to the prosecutor,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Last year, the PSD announced tough measures against those who take part in festive firing, which usually takes place to celebrate social events such as education results and weddings. 

The department has 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, as well as individuals who sell weapons and ammunition for this purpose.

The PSD’s measures have also included locking up any groom whose wedding involved festive shooting.

In 2015, 35 people were arrested and 33 weapons were confiscated in festive firing cases, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted a source from the Interior Ministry as saying earlier this month. 

Ali Qamar, whose son passed Tawjihi this year, said he noticed a significant decline in the practice of festive firing on Monday. 

“I did not hear any gunshots yesterday [Monday] and this indicates that the national campaigns and measures taken by the concerned parties have helped decrease the number of violations,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Qamar said he is against festive firing, advising people to find more civilised ways to celebrate the results of the exams.  

“They can serve sweets to their neighbours and this can make both the family of the student and his neighbour happy. No need to annoy people around you,” he added.