Lebanese singer Fadl Shakir will appear before the military court next Tuesday. He will be tried on four separate security cases, accused of 'belonging to an armed organization, financing this organization, possessing unlicensed weapons, and undermining the authority and prestige of the state.' According to sources, the head of the military court, Brigadier General Bassam Fayyad, has designated Tuesday for Shakir's interrogation, considering the lengthy time it will take. The session will be accompanied by stringent security measures taken by the Lebanese Army around and inside the military court. Shakir, his defense team, and a representative from the military prosecution are expected to be present. It is not yet known if the court's presidency will allow media coverage of the trial. Media presence may be restricted to court-accredited journalists only. This session will be a practical test for Fadl Shakir and his legal team regarding their preparation for the trial and their efforts to refute the charges against him. Sources have clarified that the first session will see the military court president question Shakir and confront him with the evidence on which the previous in-absentia rulings were based. The role of the military prosecution will also be prominent in questioning and lending seriousness to the accusation brought against Shakir since 2013, following events in Aabra that occurred between the Lebanese Army and supporters of Ahmad al-Asir. It is worth noting that Fadl Shakar voluntarily turned himself in to Lebanese military intelligence on October 4th at the entrance to Ain al-Hilweh camp, after more than 12 years there. At the time, he explained his surrender as a legal settlement to end his cases, although the delay of the military court in setting a trial date raised doubts.
