Asharq Al-Awsat, Asharq Al-Awsat

 

The military court in Lebanon sentenced on Thursday popular singer Fadel Shaker to jail on terrorism charges in offences dating back to 2013.

That year, the military engaged in armed clashes with a group loyal to extremist Ahmed al-Asir in the southern town of Abra near Sidon city.

In a first ruling, Fadel Shmandur - his real name - was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the acts of terrorism committed by terrorists with his knowledge. He was also accused of providing them with logistic support.

In a second ruling, he was sentenced to seven years in jail, ordered to pay a fine of 5 million Lebanese pounds (or 1,500 dollars according to the official rate) and was stripped of his civil rights on charges of funding Asir's armed group and securing it with weapons and ammunition.

The Abra clashes left 18 soldiers and 11 gunmen dead.

Asir was arrested at Beirut airport on August 15, 2015 as he was attempting to flee Lebanon with a fake passport.

Shaker began his career as a popular wedding singer who performed from the rooftops of the crowded Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in Sidon, the largest in Lebanon.

He became immensely popular across the Arab world for his love songs and advocacy of Palestinian rights.

When Syria’s uprising erupted in 2011, Shaker shocked his fans by joining the ranks of extremist preacher Asir.