‘Wedding photo leads to festive firing arrest in Irbid’

AMMAN — Irbid police on Saturday announced the arrest of a man for festive firing after obtaining a photo of him holding a gun at a wedding. 

“The man who appeared to be shooting from a gun was arrested over the weekend and referred to the governor for further legal action,” Public Security Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

Sartawi told The Jordan Times that the weapon was seized and “it was determined that it was a noise gun”, which produces the sound of gunfire but does not shoot any bullets. 

Nevertheless, the police official added, “the man was referred to the governor who will decide what legal action will be taken against him”.

The incident was brought to the attention of police when a citizen provided Irbid Public Security Department with a photo of the suspect standing on a roof, raising his hand with a gun in his fist, according to a statement from the department.

“A special team was formed to investigate the authenticity of the photo, and once it was verified, investigators searched for the man and arrested him,” the statement added.

Last year, the PSD announced strict 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 pledged  to arrest any person who owns a gun without a licence or  who fires weapons for any occasion, as well as those who sell weapons and ammunition for this purpose.

Police have also locked up grooms whose weddings involved festive firing. 

In 2015, 35 people were arrested and 33 weapons were confiscated in festive firing cases, according to official figures released earlier this year.

The judiciary has introduced stiffer penalties over the years to curb festive shooting and started charging perpetrators with manslaughter and attempted murder under Article 326 of the Penal Code in cases when celebratory shooting has led to injuries or deaths.

Individuals convicted of causing death by festive firing could receive up to 20 years in prison, and in cases of multiple fatalities, the shooter could be sentenced to life in prison.  

Those convicted of causing an injury by festive firing face up to 10 years in prison.