Amman court sentences man to one year for celebratory gunfire at wedding

The Amman Magistrate Court issued a sentence against a man in his 40s for a full year in prison after he was convicted of firing 10 rounds from an unlicensed pistol at his brother's wedding.

The ruling, a rare and severe punishment, comes as a direct result of recent directives from the Public Prosecutor's Office to crack down on the practice of celebratory gunfire at weddings and other events.

Harsher sentences

The defendant was convicted of two charges: firing a weapon without cause, in violation of Article 330/1 of the Penal Code, and carrying and possessing an unlicensed firearm, in violation of Articles 3 and 4/11/d of the Firearms Law.

Previous sentences for similar cases typically resulted in a maximum of six months in prison. This new ruling signals a clear intent by the Jordanian judiciary to take a stricter stance against this dangerous trend.

Details of the Crime

The court determined that the defendant fired 10 rounds into the air from a 9mm pistol during his brother's wedding, which was held in a central area of Amman. The man pleaded guilty, confessing to both possessing the unlicensed weapon and firing the shots.

The court decided to enforce the stricter of the two sentences, which was one year in prison. The report also noted that if such actions result in injury or death, the case is referred to the Grand Criminal Court.