King’s remarks on festive firing leave no room for favouritism — commentators

AMMAN — Academics and columnists on Monday welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah’s remarks on festive firing, in which he said the issue will be seriously dealt with and measures will be taken to end it.

At a meeting on Sunday with dignitaries representing Amman communities, the King stressed that no one is above the law. “Even if it were my son who is shooting… I would ask security bodies to take the same measures against him.”

“This is an unusual, important and radical step that was taken by the King to put an end to this dangerous and disturbing phenomenon,” said Musa Shteiwi, director of the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies.

Shteiwi added that the King was clear in his message that “this issue will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law.”

“I think the King is sending a clear message to the officials and the people that... favouritism is out of the question,” Shteiwi told The Jordan Times.

The King said he saw the online video that went viral a few days ago showing a child killed by mistake while a man was reloading his gun at a wedding reception, stressing that this must not be allowed to happen.

“From now on, we will take all measures against anyone who uses arms at occasions and celebrations, and we will not allow festive firing to kill another child,” His Majesty said. 

Security bodies in the various governorates should see to this, the King told Amman dignitaries, leading figures and military veterans at the Royal Court, pointing out that it is a red line for him.  

Al Ghad Columnist Mohammad Abu Rumman welcomed these remarks.

“This is an excellent and important step by the King to intervene personally and stand against [festive firing],” Abu Rumman told The Jordan Times.

He added that King Abdullah also touched on a sensitive issue “in a smart way, which is that the law, in these events, will be applied against everyone equally”.

“There has always been a fear that there would be inequality in applying the law when it comes to festive firing. But it is clear from the King’s message that no one will be above the law, including his own son,” Abu Rumman added.

In its editorial on Monday, Al Rai Arabic daily also praised the King’s “firm stance against the festive firing phenomenon”.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani on Monday said the King’s remarks on celebratory gunfire are “considered orders, and political and social directives to all concerned authorities and citizens, stressing that there will be no favouritism for this horrible action”.

“The government will adopt strict measures including beefing up police patrols near social occasions to make sure that the law will be applied,” Momani told The Jordan Times.

“The minister said that the government issued instructions to governors and mayors that favouritism was out of the question and that everyone will be prosecuted before the law,” he added.

Last week, the Public Security Department (PSD) announced stiff measures against violators, including locking up any groom whose wedding includes festive shooting.

“The groom will spend his honeymoon in prison if shooting occurs during his wedding to celebrate the occasion,” PSD Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi told Amen FM, the PSD radio.

Saudi urged the public to call 911 and report any shooting incident that occurs at a wedding party near them “and we will be there”.

The PSD 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 in any occasion, and individuals who sell weapons and ammunition for this purpose.

Police officers will be present undercover at weddings to identify and arrest violators, the PSD announced.

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.