Lebanese pop star faces court after over a decade in hiding for ties to terrorist group

Fadel Shaker, a Lebanese pop star turned Islamist militant, has appeared in court after 12 years on the run. Shaker, who was once a popular figure in the Arab music scene, had been in hiding since 2013 following violent clashes between Sunni Muslim militants and the Lebanese army in Sidon. The singer was sentenced to 22 years in absentia in 2020 for supporting a terrorist group. As part of the arrangement to surrender, Shaker’s previous charges would be dropped, but he is now facing new charges related to his crimes against the Lebanese military. Shaker’s notoriety grew during the 2013 violence when he appeared in a video mocking the military after a deadly shootout that left at least 18 soldiers dead. His transformation from pop star to militant had begun in the years prior, particularly after he became influenced by the hardline Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmad al Assir. Shaker’s radicalization led him to abandon his music career, and he appeared alongside the cleric at various rallies. However, in July, Shaker released a new song with his son, which has now garnered over 100 million views on YouTube, raising questions about his ongoing influence in the Arab music scene despite his militant past.