Pop Star Turned Islamist Militant Fadel Shaker Surrenders to Lebanese Military After a Dozen Years in Hiding
One ex- pop star who became a wanted Islamist militant has turned himself in to Lebanese military intelligence following 12 years on the run.
Background of the Situation
Fadel Shaker had been a fugitive since bloody street clashes broke out in the summer of 2013 in the port city of Sidon, involving Sunni Muslim militants against the Lebanese army.
He was tried while absent and sentenced to over two decades in prison in the year 2020 for providing support to a terrorist group.
Handover Process
Late Saturday, a army intelligence unit reached one of the access points of the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the city and took Shaker into custody.
Security and judicial officials confirmed that the former singer had been taking refuge inside the camp for over a dozen years.
The handover took place after coordination between mediators and representatives at the ministry of defense.
Judicial Consequences
Officials explained that now that Shaker is in custody by Lebanese authorities, the sentences that he received during his fugitive status will be dropped.
He will be questioned in preparation to face court proceedings on fresh allegations of committing offenses targeting army personnel.
The Defendant's Previous Denials
Throughout his time in hiding, Shaker had denied playing any role in the Sidon clashes and maintained he did not support violence.
2013 Confrontation
That year's armed clash, which pitted followers of hardline religious leader Ahmad al-Assir against the national military, caused the loss of at least 18 soldiers and deepened sectarian tensions in the country between the two main Muslim communities.
Through a recording posted to the video platform on the second day of the urban conflict in Sidon, a bearded Shaker called his enemies as pigs and dogs and taunted the army.
Professional Evolution
Shaker rose to become a celebrity singer throughout the Middle East in the early 2000s with a chart-topping song.
Roughly a decade after, he came under the sway of Assir and shocked followers by showing up alongside the radical preacher at rallies.
Later, he declared that he was giving up his music career to draw nearer to the divine.
Latest Updates
This past summer, Shaker, along with his son Mohammed, put out a fresh track that became extremely popular throughout the Arab world and gathered over 113M views on YouTube.
Broader Context
Shaker's handover comes as the Lebanese army initiated the process of collecting weapons from the country's 12 Palestinian refugee camps that have traditionally been off limits to government forces.
