BEIRUT: A beardless Fadel Shaker has emerged from hiding, renouncing the Salafist beliefs that have had the former singer on the run from the law since 2013. Lawyer in tow, Shaker has disputed the veracity of the terrorism charges leveled at him by authorities. “Shaker intends to hand himself over to the judiciary,” his lawyer, May al-Khansa, told The Daily Star Monday but added that she must review his files before a final decision can be made in that regard.
“He believes that he is innocent, and I have a feeling that he is innocent as well,” Khansa added, though she stated she has yet to review the majority of his legal records.
“Technically it’s still my first day representing him.”
Shaker was allegedly alongside firebrand preacher Ahmad al-Assir and his militia when the group fought pitched battles with the Lebanese Army in Sidon during the summer of 2013, resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers and 28 gunmen loyal to Assir.
Assir’s most notorious protégé, Shaker previously alleged that he had personally killed two members of the army during the 2013 attacks.
First Military Investigative Judge Riad Abu Ghayda handed down indictments following the clashes, requesting the death penalty for 57 individuals, including Shaker and Assir, who remains at large.
The pop singer-turned-alleged Salafist militant is charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, carrying out terrorist operations, participating in and attempting attacks against the Army, inciting sectarian strife, possession of unlicensed weapons and issuing statements deemed harmful to civil peace.
Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr charged Shaker with inciting sectarian hatred and harming Lebanon’s ties with a friendly state, via his statements on Facebook.
According to Khansa, Shaker has denied accusations of his participation in the Abra clashes and has asserted that he did not kill any of the soldiers. She added that there are witnesses who will attest to Shaker’s whereabouts during the Sidon battles and that they will submit to questioning by the security forces.
However, Shaker’s lawyer did not dismiss all the charges against her client, especially those relating to negative remarks made about the Lebanese Army.
“He did issue negative statements but no blood was spilled,” said Khansa. “He told me that he will be willing to assume responsibility for his statements when politicians and other notable figures who have taken similar stances are prosecuted for their crime.”
Media reports have claimed that Shaker, who is believed to be in hiding in the Taamir neighborhood of Ain al-Hilweh, is attempting to secure a deal to leave the Palestinian camp.
Army commander Jean Kahwagi stated Monday that more than five months ago, a close friend and business associate of Shaker’s named Imad Qanso had contacted him to say that the singer was willing to hand himself over to the judiciary. Kahwagi said he told Qanso that the issue should be taken up with the military court.
Khansa denied claims that there was a deal in place to absolve Shaker of his crimes, contending that if “a deal had been reached then he wouldn’t need a lawyer.”
“I know of many suspects who have had their charges dropped because of a settlement, and none of them needed to hire legal counsel.”
Despite the absence of a settlement, Khansa said Shaker’s case could be resolved without his arrest. “The court could withdraw the charges, in which case he would still attend trial but as a free man.”
“This is possible as long as he intends to work with the judiciary and as long as the court is aware of his whereabouts and place of residence,” he added.
A judicial source told The Daily Star that Shaker’s lawyer would have to file an official request to withdraw the charges, but said it was highly unlikely that the court would agree to do so given that an arrest warrant has already been issued.
Asked whether Shaker could be found innocent and released by a Military Court, like some of the other Abra suspects, Khansa contended that it was possible, especially if it can be shown that he did not commit the crimes he is accused of.
In this scenario, a lawyer would call for a trial hearing before the court, and Shaker would turn himself over to police on the eve of his hearing. He would then be transported to court, where his lawyer could then file for his immediate release.
Judicial sources said that this scenario was the most probable, given that the arrest warrant issued against Shaker would be fulfilled if he turned himself in.
Khansa, who spoke openly of her affiliation with the Shiite movement Hezbollah, said that she was hired solely on merit, denying reports that Shaker appointed her to offset his reputation as a Sunni radical. “I am with the resistance, but I have clients from across the political spectrum, and he hired me because of my work,” she said.
A clean-shaven and suited Shaker first appeared in an exclusive interview with LBCI over the weekend. Speaking from his home in Ain al-Hilweh, he denied participation in the Abra clashes and said that his relationship with Assir had become strained ahead of the fighting.
Shaker’s support for the Salafist sheikh was first made public when he attended a rally organized by Assir in Downtown Beirut in 2012. During the event the singer was seen kissing Assir’s forehead.
Shaker has also featured in several videos available on YouTube. In controversial footage released during the Abra clashes, he addressed the Lebanese Army as “pigs and dogs,” while announcing the death of two soldiers and the wounding of 16. “May god increase their [casualties]” he added.
In another video, he announced his support for a declaration issued by Assir regarding the establishment of a rebel brigade that would mobilize in support of the Syrian opposition. In the video, Shaker asked for moral and material support for “jihad in Syria.”
No comments:
Post a Comment