The case of Lebanese artist Fadel Shaker is accelerating, and his name has been thrust back into the forefront of judicial and media circles after a military court rejected all requests for his release filed in four attachments.
Sources close to the Lebanese artist said the decision shocked everyone, especially since the family had hoped to break the law on at least two counts: “insulting a sister country” and “possession of military weapons.” But with the court temporarily closing its doors, the defense team moved quickly to prepare a new claim in hopes of resubmitting the case to military justice in a different form.
It’s not just movement. The defense is also considering filing additional claims regarding the “Threats to Hilal Hammoud” file. This file is one of the most sensitive, as it is related to a bloody incident that occurred in the city of Sidon several years ago, and it still casts a large shadow over this incident.
In parallel, the Beirut Criminal Court has set a new trial date for April 24 to bring together defendants Fadel Sheiker and Ahmed al-Ajir in the context of the 2013 attempted murder of Hilal Hammoud. The case is considered one of the most dangerous trials in this complex judicial process.
Between responding to requests and preparing for a new round of defense, the case appears to be far from resolved. While each judicial decision opens the door to a different scenario, advocates await the outcome of one of the most controversial issues in both the artistic and political worlds.
