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'Riots contained in Irbid town after shooting death of teenager'

By Rana Husseini - Jan 31,2016 - Last updated at Jan 31,2016

AMMAN — A 16-year-old boy shot last week in Sareeh town in Irbid, allegedly by his neighbour, died at dawn on Sunday, provoking riots in his district, official sources said.

The victim, Ayham Rawabdeh, was reportedly shot by his 40-year-old neighbour a week ago over personal disputes, Irbid Police Department Director Brig. Gen. Ali Hamlan said.

“The victim remained hospitalised at the ICU after being shot in the foot and stomach, and succumbed to his wounds on Sunday,” Hamlan told The Jordan Times in a telephone interview.

Shortly after the announcement of the boy’s death, the police official said acts of riot occurred in the neighbourhood where the victim and suspect resided.

A resident in the area told The Jordan Times that a shop and a house belonging to the suspect were torched by a group of people at dawn on Sunday.

“Gendarmerie forces were called in and they brought the situation under control. Fire engines were called and they extinguished the fires,” the police official said.

Hamlan added that “no one was injured in the fires because the families of the suspect were evicted to a remote location based on tribal laws [jalwa]”.  

Jalwa, a term first coined by tribes, entails the forced relocation of a clan if one of its members murders someone, in a bid to avoid friction between the victim’s and the killer’s tribes or families if they were living in the same area. 

The local resident, who preferred not to be identified, said rioting occurred when the boy was laid to rest on Sunday but was contained by gendarmerie forces.

The police official said three individuals were arrested in response to the riots.

 

“We are still investigating the incident and more people could be arrested as a result. In the meantime, the situation is under control and calm is restored in the town,” Hamlan said.

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