BEIRUT (AP) - Fadel Shaker, a former Lebanese pop star who transformed into an Islamist militant, made his first court appearance in Beirut on Tuesday after surrendering earlier this month. Shaker had spent 12 years evading capture, hiding in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh following violent clashes between Sunni Muslim militants and the Lebanese army in June 2013 in Sidon.
In 2020, Shaker was tried in absentia and sentenced to 22 years in prison for providing support to a “terrorist group.” However, as part of the arrangement that convinced him to surrender, the sentences imposed during his time on the run would be annulled. He is now set to face new charges involving crimes against the military, with Tuesday's court appearance serving as a preliminary questioning session.
The 2013 gunfight between followers of hard-line Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir and the Lebanese army resulted in the deaths of at least 18 soldiers. During this conflict, Shaker infamously appeared in a YouTube video in which he disparaged military forces, referring to his enemies as “pigs and dogs” and provocatively claiming, “we have two rotting corpses that we snatched from you yesterday,” seemingly referring to fallen soldiers.
Shaker rose to fame as a pop star across the Arab world with a major hit in 2002. However, nearly a decade later, he fell under the influence of Sheikh al-Assir, which led to a dramatic change in his public persona. Shaker shocked fans by appearing alongside the cleric at rallies, asserting his decision to abandon his music career to pursue a closer relationship with God.
Despite his earlier commitment to religious pursuits, Shaker has continued to engage with his music career in recent years. This year alone, he has released several singles, and in July, he collaborated with his son, Mohammed, to produce a new song that has achieved significant popularity, amassing over 127 million views on YouTube.
Shaker's shift from pop idol to militant figure highlights the complex intersections of fame, ideology, and conflict within Lebanon, illustrating the challenges faced by the nation in navigating the impacts of sectarian divides and militant activities in recent years. His ongoing legal proceedings will likely draw continued public and media attention, reflecting on his controversial journey from stardom to infamy.
