Lebanon's Military Tribunal has sentenced an extremist preacher to death for his role in fueling sectarian violence in the Arab country and organizing attacks against members of the army. The court, chaired by Major General Hussein Abdullah, passed the verdict on Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir on Thursday. Thirty-three other defendants also stood trial on terrorism charges.
Former prominent Lebanese singer Fadl Shaker, who supported Assir, was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison. He is thought to be hiding in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp west of the village of Mieh Mieh, which is located more than 45 kilometers south of the capital Beirut.
Also present in court were the preacher’s brother, Amjad al-Assir, and his two sons, Mohammad and Omar, who stand accused of organizing an armed group. Assir refused to recognize the ruling. He also rejected his court-appointed lawyer during the trial, saying, “You do not represent me and I do not recognize you.”
On his hand, Arab retired singer Fadl Shaker revealed his position from the controversial case related to the attack that targeted a number of Lebanese military personnel in south Lebanon and led to the killing of 11 elements of the Lebanese army.
Shaker said, in a statement to “Arabs Today”, “I believe in my innocence from all accusations against me in this issue. All the data indicated that I was not there at the time of the battle, especially since the declarations of some of those who actually participated in the clash showed that I did not participate. Even surveillance cameras inside the Bilal bin Rabah mosque compound did not monitor me.”
He stressed, “I am convinced that the logical dealings with my file will reach the stage of innocence, as long as there is no security offense against me and all that is there is a judgment that condemns me as a Syrian who attacked freedom of opinion. As everyone knows in Lebanon there is a lot of space for that issue.”
On the other hand, Sources revealed that Arab singer Fadl Shaker changed his residency after the latest threats that the Lebanese security authorities will raid Ain Al Helwa refugees camp, adding that the former singer left his house since Friday.
They added that he was thinking to surrender himself to the Lebanese authorities to end his problem with them, while he retreated due to his fears over the verdicts that could be issued against him without serious trial. He added that he was thinking to leave Ain Al Helwa camp not to face verdicts while to ensure justice.
They added that he is not a part of any settlement to extradite the wanted people in the case of Ein Al Helwa Camp in the southern area of Lebanon. He added that he has been sentenced in absentia in a case related to the insult of a neighboring state which is Syria.