🔗 Share this article

A ex- celebrity singer who became a sought-after radical Islamist fighter has turned himself in to the country's army intelligence after spending 12 years evading authorities.

Background of the Case

Fadel Shaker had been in hiding 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 22 years in jail in the year 2020 for providing support to a terrorist group.

Handover Event

Late Saturday, a Lebanese military intelligence force arrived at one of the entrances of the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the city and apprehended the fugitive into custody.

Security and judicial officials confirmed that Shaker had been taking refuge inside the camp for over a dozen years.

This surrender occurred following arrangements between intermediaries and officials at the Lebanese defence ministry.

Legal Implications

Authorities indicated that since Shaker is in custody by the government, the sentences that he was given during his fugitive status will be dropped.

He will be questioned in readiness to stand trial on new charges of committing crimes against the military.

The Defendant's Past Statements

Throughout his time in hiding, the former pop star had rejected claims of playing any role in the Sidon clashes and stated he did not support bloodshed.

2013 Confrontation

The 2013 shootout, which involved supporters of radical religious leader Ahmad al-Assir against the Lebanese army, caused the deaths of at least 18 military personnel and deepened sectarian tensions in the country between the two main Muslim communities.

Through a recording posted to the video platform on the following day of the urban conflict in the city, a unshaven Shaker referred to his opponents as pigs and dogs and taunted the military.

Professional Evolution

Shaker rose to become a pop star across the Middle East in the early 2000s with a smash hit.

Almost 10 years later, he came under the sway of Assir and surprised fans by appearing alongside the hardline cleric at public gatherings.

Later, he declared that he was abandoning singing to draw nearer to God.

Recent Developments

This past summer, Shaker, along with his son Mohammed, released a new song that went viral throughout the Arab world and accumulated more than 113M views on YouTube.

Broader Context

Shaker's handover coincides with the Lebanese army initiated the procedure of collecting arms from the nation's dozen Palestinian settlements that have historically remained restricted areas to authorities.