Khaberni - On Friday evening, social media accounts in Lebanon published the first picture of the Lebanese artist Fadel Shaker appearing before the court.
On Friday, the criminal court in Beirut held an open session dedicated to the trial of the artist Fadel Shaker, Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, and four others in an attempted murder case of Hilal Hammoud, an official in "Saraya al-Muqawama" in Saida.
The session convened at 11 AM today, where the accused Fadel Shaker was brought from the Ministry of Defense prison with his lawyer Amata Mubarak, while Ahmad al-Assir was brought from Roumieh prison, represented by lawyers Mohammad Sablouh and Abdel Badeea Akkoum, amid tight security measures.
The session began with the reading of the indictment, followed by the court interviewing Fadel Shaker who confirmed his previous statements, denying ownership of any armed faction.
Fadel Shaker stated that what he had did not exceed a security group of 12 people managed by his brother, tasked with protecting him after provocations and threats he faced around his home in the city of Saida.
The Lebanese artist pointed out that the state and its security agencies did not act to deter these threats, reflecting their weakness at the time.
Shaker explained that his house was set ablaze and he incurred significant losses exceeding one million dollars, accusing elements from "Hezbollah" of being behind it.
During the interrogation, he noted that he filed official complaints without any serious follow-up.
He also confirmed that he "does not know how to use weapons nor does he carry them, despite having a legal license", denying personal knowledge of the claimant Hilal Hammoud, merely stating that he knows him only as an official in "Saraya al-Muqawama".
During the session, Shaker discussed a disagreement that occurred between him and Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, asserting that he was not part of any military activity with him during the Abra battles, and that he was preparing to leave the area and hand over his escorts' weapons to the army, but events erupted the following day.
He also accused the claimant Hilal Hammoud of "slander and financially extorting him to drop the lawsuit".
In turn, Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir affirmed his previous statements, admitting to founding an armed group named "Free Resistance Brigades" comprising about 200 members, justifying this by the state's neglect in protecting him and his supporters amidst a series of attacks and assassinations he attributed to "Saraya al-Muqawama".
He mentioned that he informed official authorities about his decision, confirming their understanding of the security conditions.
Al-Assir denied financing or arming Fadel Shaker, and also denied his presence at the incident site claimed by Hammoud in the attempted murder, stating that he promptly communicated with the internal security forces to address the issue.
At the end of the session, the court listened to the testimonies of the other defendants who denied the charges, and the trial was postponed to February 6th next year to complete the hearings and pleadings.
