Singer Turned Islamist Militant Fadel Shaker Surrenders to Lebanese Military After 12 Years on the Run
A ex- celebrity singer who became a wanted radical Islamist fighter has voluntarily surrendered to Lebanese military intelligence after spending over a decade on the run.
Background of the Case
Fadel Shaker had been in hiding since bloody confrontations erupted in June 2013 in the port city of Saida, pitting radical Sunni fighters against the Lebanese army.
He faced trial in absentia and given to over two decades in jail in the year 2020 for providing support to a militant organization.
Handover Event
On Saturday night, a army intelligence unit arrived at one of the access points of the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh near the city and took Shaker into custody.
Authoritative sources confirmed that Shaker had been hiding inside the camp for more than a dozen years.
The handover occurred following arrangements between mediators and representatives at the ministry of defense.
Legal Implications
Authorities explained that since the defendant is being held by Lebanese authorities, the sentences that he received while on the run will be dropped.
He will be questioned in readiness to face court proceedings on fresh allegations of committing crimes against the military.
Shaker's Past Statements
Throughout his time in hiding, the former pop star had rejected claims of having any involvement in the Sidon clashes and stated he never advocated bloodshed.
2013 Confrontation
The 2013 shootout, which pitted followers of hardline religious leader Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir against the national military, resulted in the deaths of at least 18 soldiers and intensified communal strife in the country between the two main Muslim communities.
In a video posted to YouTube on the following day of the street fighting in Sidon, a unshaven the singer referred to his enemies as swine and canines and taunted the army.
Career Transformation
The artist became a pop star throughout the Middle East in 2002 with a chart-topping song.
Almost 10 years later, he came under the sway of Assir and surprised followers by showing up next to the hardline cleric at rallies.
Subsequently, he declared that he was abandoning singing to become closer to God.
Recent Developments
This past summer, Shaker, together with his son Mohammed, put out a fresh track that became extremely popular across the Middle East and gathered over 113M watches on the video platform.
Broader Context
Shaker's handover coincides with the Lebanese army initiated the procedure of collecting weapons from the country's dozen Palestinian settlements that have traditionally been restricted areas to authorities.