Fadel Shaker Defends Himself in Military Court.. Denial of Carrying Arms and Funding Sheikh Assir's Group

A new development occurred in the military trial sessions in Lebanon regarding the case of artist Fadel Shaker, after the court listened on Thursday to his testimony alongside Sheikh Ahmad Assir separately, within the files related to the events of Abra in Sidon in 2013, with sessions set to resume on March 24.

Shaker confirmed during his testimony that he did not participate in the gunfire during the clashes that erupted at that time, emphasizing that he has never carried a weapon in his life and has no knowledge of how to use one. He also denied providing any financial support to Sheikh Ahmad Assir's group.

For his part, Assir stated during his testimony that Shaker did not fund his armed group, clarifying that he did not accept any money from him, adding that the artist's recourse to Assir came as a result of threats he faced, according to his account.

The Lebanese army announced on October 5 that Shaker voluntarily surrendered to the Intelligence Directorate at the entrance of Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon, confirming that investigations were conducted under the supervision of the competent judiciary regarding his name's association with the events of Abra, following nearly a year after he announced his retirement from singing in 2012.

The case dates back to June 2013, when armed confrontations erupted between supporters of Sheikh Ahmad Assir and the Lebanese army, following an attack on a military checkpoint, resulting in the deaths of 18 soldiers and 11 militants, before the army took control of a compound where Assir and his supporters, including Shaker, were holed up, who later went into hiding inside Ain al-Hilweh camp.

The military judiciary issued two absentia sentences against Shaker in 2020, the first sentencing him to 15 years in prison with hard labor and stripping him of his civil rights for intervening in terrorist acts by providing logistical services, while the second sentence imposed an additional seven years in prison and a financial fine for funding Assir's group and securing weapons and ammunition for it.

Shaker is currently on trial for charges including incitement to murder, funding terrorism, and illegal possession of weapons, at a time when his artistic appearance sparked widespread controversy after he won, last January, two music awards at the "Joy Awards" ceremony, where he received the Favorite Artist award, while his song "Sahak Al-Shouq" won the Favorite Song award.