Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 AMMAN, Jordan-During a heated parliamentary session, one member of Jordan’s parliament, Talal al-Sharif, pulled out an AK-47 rifle and opened fire.  Aiming at a fellow member Qusay Dmisa, intervention from other parliament members prevented any wounds from occurring.

The dispute between al-Sharif and Dmisa arose during a closed parliament session involving budget matters.  Eye witnesses confirmed that al-Sharif left parliament to go to his car to get the gun and upon return was stopped by fellow member, Mariam Al Lozi, causing the three fired bullets to hit the ceiling and wall.

After the shooting, al-Sharif was arrested and is to be detained for the next fifteen days while King Abdullah II decides how to further proceed.  Many members of parliament have called for al-Sharif’s expulsion, but since parliament is sitting in an extraordinary session, the issue cannot be decided without special decree from the king.

Local websites showing video footage of the shooting as caused uproar from citizens and political activists that have spread through Jordan.   Many are expressing their displeasure and calling for “stern measures to be taken against the attacker.”  Others have said that the incident “damages the country’s reputation.”

Al-Sharif is facing charges of attempted murderer, possession of a firearm without a license, and resisting police arrest.  If convicted of the related charges, al-Sharif could be facing up to 15 years in jail.

This is not the first violent altercation that has occurred amongst parliament members while in session.  The 180-member parliament is prominently members of the traditional Bedoin tribes with no particular ideological agenda causing sessions to become disorderly and unruly.

During the summer, one member was overpowered by a fellow colleague when he attempted to pull a gun on another.  In other debates, members have been known to throw shoes or bottles of water during heated debates.

This was the first time that an actual firearm has been fired by a member of parliament.  However, given the members’ track record for outbursts, and their increasing intensity, it is only a matter of time before someone actual does get hurt.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera-Jordanian MP opens fire in parliament-September 10, 2013

Al Arabiya-Jordanian MP shoots rifle during parliament session-September 10, 2013

Euro News-Mayhem as MP fires AK-47 at colleague in Jordan’s parliament-September 10, 2013

Independent-Jordanian MP opens fire on tribal rival in parliament-September 10, 2013

Sky News-Jordan MP ‘Opens Fire’ On Fellow Politician-September 10, 2013