WATCH: Video of Iraqi MP celebrating, shooting gun at wedding sparks controversy
A video of Iraqi Member of Parliament Wihda al-Jamily shooting a gun in the air during a wedding circulated social media and sparked a debate.
The member of the country’s parliamentary human rights committee gets out of a car with a handgun, while excitedly shooting in the air. A man in the background can be heard telling her “welcome huntress”.
Jamily issued an apology later on her official Facebook account saying: “I hope for your forgiveness, I am a tribal woman and was at the wedding of one of my neighborhood’s dear residents in a rural area in the city of al-Ramadi.”
The video sparked a wide debate among locals as her act, according to the law, is considered a crime.
Hazem al-Ameri, who is an Iraqi lawyer, said that the punishment varies for this kind of act, and can reach a life sentence in jail.
“The provisions of Article 405 of the Iraqi Penal Code may apply to this crime as an act that could lead to a loss of life,” al-Ameri said.
Activists took to social media to use the hashtag ‘Welcome huntress’ and denounce what Jamily did.
Recently, the Iraqi health ministry had released a statement announcing the death of a child and injury of 76 people due to the firing of rifles during New Year’s celebrations.
