Festive gunfire: Turkish groom dead at the hands of female in-law

ISTANBUL: Pakistan is infamous for celebratory fire, be it Eid moonsighting and new year or weddings or festivals. However, we are not alone in this practice, as a AFP report says a Turkish groom died of his injuries after being hit by celebratory gunfire after his own wedding in northern Turkiye, local media reported on Wednesday.

As the newlyweds were being escorted home after the ceremony, the 23-year-old groom, identified as Ali K, was wounded by gunfire, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Meanwhile, AFP says he was allegedly received bullet wounds at the hands of one of his in-laws — a female relative of his wife.

Later, the 47-year-old woman was detained by security forces and two unlicensed pistols were found in her garden. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident.

Celebratory gunfire is common at weddings in Turkey’s northern Black Sea region.

Last week, another man died and two others were wounded by celebratory gunfire before a wedding in the northeastern Trabzon province.

The wedding was cancelled and two people, one of whom was a police officer, were detained in connection with the incident, local media reported.

Meanwhile, displaying arms is a tradition in Pakistan which leads to the celebratory gunfire that claims many lives or at least injure people on festive occasions.

THE BALKANS

Talking of the celebratory gunfire at weddings, it is a tradition among the Slavs in the Balkans. And often it is the bride who too fire shots in the air to celebrate the start of a new life.

But why celebratory of festive gunfire is common in certain regions?

It is widespread availability of guns, which are often illegal — a reason with which the Americans won’t agree. The US is ranked top in the world for per capita arms and they don’t follow this tradition.

So, we can say that the custom is rooted in tribal or feudal mindset, as the festive gunfire is common in societies, which haven’t fully witnessed the industrialisation process, as an ultimate expression of show of power.