Ramadan Firecrackers

Adam, a fourteen-year-old boy, was playing with his friends after breakfast. They were laughing, and launching fireworks into the sky. Suddenly, one of these firecrackers exploded in his face before he could launch it, and he lost one of his eyes forever. Although there are no statistics about these incidents yet, there are many incidents that have broken our hearts in Alexandria. A child lost his finger because of a firework. In Kerdasa, a young man suffered a fractured skull and severe bleeding after trying to prevent a group of young men from launching firecrackers that terrified the neighbors. They clashed with him, and the matter ended in tragedy. In Qalyubia and Fayoum, two girls suffered severe facial burns from these dangerous firecrackers. In Ismailia, a girl died, and her entire family suffered severe burns after their apartment caught fire. This was caused by a "Ramadan firecrackers" launched by a child inside the house.

Two young men turned a house into a workshop for manufacturing fireworks and firecrackers. The house suddenly exploded and collapsed, one person died, and neighboring houses were damaged and some burned. Fireworks and firecrackers incidents have increased recently since the beginning of Ramadan and we are still waiting for Eid. These are not innocent celebrations and have nothing to do with the joy of Ramadan or the holidays. Our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm,” so it is not permissible to rejoice at the expense of people’s safety or comfort.

In Ramadan, we seek peace and tranquility, and to be closer to the God. I remember that there is a law prohibiting the production, use, or circulation of these firecrackers and there must be oversight of its implementation. Penal Code No. 58 of 1937 has tightened the penalties for those who possess and sell firecrackers,  which spread in the month of Ramadan, to life imprisonment or rigorous imprisonment. Who is responsible for implementing this law?. There must be advertising campaigns and a focus on the dangers of such firecrackers, in the media and on social media. Ramadan is an opportunity to have fun together, but in safe ways that do not harm anyone. We do not want to see a child lose an eye, a young man lose his life, or a family live a tragedy. Oh God, keep us away from evil and harm and have mercy on us.