A Lebanese military court set next Tuesday as the date to begin the trial of artist Fadl Shakir in four lawsuits filed against him. According to the Lebanese News Agency, the cases are related to “belonging to an armed organization, financing the group of Sheikh Ahmad al-Asir, possessing unlicensed weapons, and undermining the authority and prestige of the state.” The singer Fadl Shakir turned himself in to the Lebanese army early last October after spending more than a decade in hiding in Ain al-Hilweh camp in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese military court had issued a ruling in 2017 sentencing Fadl Shakir to 15 years in prison with hard labor on charges of supporting terrorists and attacking the army, as well as depriving him of his civil rights. The incident took place in the context of events in Ain al-Hilweh camp when clashes broke out between Ahmad al-Asir's group and the Lebanese army. It is worth noting that Fadl Shakir was born in 1969 in Sidon and is considered one of the most prominent singers in the Arab world, known for his romantic works and beautiful voice.
