Lebanese Artist Fadl Shaker's Military Court Hearing Postponed to February 12

The Lebanese artist Fadl Shaker appeared before the permanent military court on Thursday to address four security cases, each resulting in sentences ranging from 5 to 15 years of hard labor in absentia.

The session was presided over by Colonel Waseem Fayyad, with the prosecutor, Judge Nidal Al-Sha'ar, and Shaker's attorney, Amata Mubarak, in attendance.

Closed Session

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Shaker and his lawyer requested that the session be held behind closed doors, leading to the exclusion of journalists and unauthorized attorneys. The hearing lasted approximately two and a half hours, during which Shaker was questioned about the four cases.

The court announced that the witness hearings, including that of Ahmad Al-Asir, have been postponed to a session scheduled for February 12.

Background of the Case

Fadl Shaker, known for his distinctive voice, has been in the public spotlight since 2013 when he was accused of involvement in armed actions during security incidents in the Sidon region and Mount Lebanon, leading to the issuance of sentences in absentia against him. In recent years, Shaker had been residing in the Ain al-Hilweh camp before recently surrendering to Lebanese authorities to pursue his case in military court.