Fadel Chaker

Fadel Abdul Rahman Shamander Chaker (Arabic: فضل عبد الرحمن شمندر شاكر Arabic pronunciation: [fadˤl ʕabdurraħmaːn ʃamandar ʃaːkɪr]; also transliterated as Fadl Shaker, born 1 April 1969) is a Lebanese singer. During his musical career he was signed to Al Khouyoul Records and from 2003 onwards with Rotana Records.

Fadel Chaker فضل عبد الرحمن شمندر شاكر
Fadel Chaker at a performance in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Fadel Abdul Rahman Shamander Chaker
Born	(1969-04-01) 1 April 1969 (age 56) Sidon, Lebanon
Genres	Arabic classical, Arabic pop
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Rotana

In 2013 and after a career as a singer, Fadel Chaker joined the ranks of imam Ahmed al-Assir and was falsely blamed in participating in the attacks on the Lebanese Army which evolved into the 2013 Sidon clash.^[1][2] As of 2013, he was a wanted fugitive by the Lebanese government and had hidden in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. Even though he was cleared of the involvement in the Sidon-Abra clash by the Lebanese authorities, multiple financial accusations remain unresolved. According to the latest updates, Fadel has left Ain al-Hilweh and voluntarily surrendered to the Lebanese forces, hoping that the judicial process will ultimately prove his innocence regarding the remaining charges.

Background

He was born to Lebanese parents in Lebanon.^[3] He grew up in a town close to the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian camp in Lebanon.^[4] That is where he met his future wife, Nadia Saleh Al Jendawi.

Music career

1998–2011

Fadl released his first album Wallah Zaman in 1998, which had eight original songs.^{[citation needed]} The second album was Baya'a El Qolob released in 1999.^{[citation needed]}

His third album was El Hob El Adem, released in 2000. His fourth album Hobak Khayal was released in 2001.^{[citation needed]} In 2002, Fadl recorded and released his first duo.^{[citation needed]} In 2003, Fadl released his ballad Ya Ghayeb to Arabic radio stations in the Middle East.^{[citation needed]}

2012–present

In 2018, eight years after his announced retirement, Chaker returned to the music world with the release of a new single which he intended to be the introduction theme song to a new Ramadan drama series that year.^[5] However, the song was rejected in the end by the production company "in respect to the Lebanese people", and instrumental music was used in the introduction to the series instead.^[6]

That same year, he was reported to be working on a new album entitled Yalla ma'al salama.^[7]

Islamist militant involvement

In the early 2010s, Fadel Chaker publicly expressed his support for the Syrian people and openly criticized the Assad regime for its oppression and violence against innocent civilians, particularly Sunni communities. That’s when he started supporting Ahmed al-Assir radical Islamic organization. His stance made him a target of intense opposition from pro-Bashar al-Assad groups in Lebanon and Syria, including Alawite and Shiite factions sympathetic to the Syrian regime.

In June 2013, clashes broke out in an eastern suburb of Sidon after several people attacked, threw stones and shattered windows in a car belonging to Ahmad al-Assir's brother, Amjad al-Assir. Ahmad al-Assir then gave Hezbollah a one-week ultimatum to vacate apartments occupied by the group's supporters in the mostly Sunni city containing heavy weapon in a civilian compound, as clashes broke out with gunmen wielding automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Officials stated that the gunmen fighting Assir's followers were believed to be Hezbollah sympathizers.^[8]

On 23 June 2013, according to news channels loyal to Hezbollah, 10 Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and 35 wounded in a clash with armed men loyal to Assir, in Sidon at an Army post near the Abra complex that houses the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque.^[9] Other Lebanese news channels denied this and accused Hezbollah militias of being involved. Violence started with a deadly attack on an army checkpoint. Roads were later blocked in other parts of the country, and the army came under fire in the Ain el-Hilweh camp.^[10]

During 23–24 June 2013, heavy street fighting erupted between the Lebanese Army and gunmen loyal to Assir in Sidon as they were falsely accused of provoking the attack. Sixteen Lebanese soldiers and more than twenty Assir supporters were killed.^[11]

Although Shaker was later accused of involvement in the 2013 Sidon clashes between Ahmad al-Assir’s group and the Lebanese Army, Chaker has consistently denied any participation, asserting that he was falsely implicated due to his outspoken political and sectarian views. ^[12]

Trial and sentencing

After a trial in absentia by the Lebanese Military Tribunal, Chaker was sentenced on 16 December 2020 to a total of 22 years in prison with hard labour.^[13] He was accused by the Military Prosecutor General of having provided financial and logistical support to a terrorist group led by Sunni Muslim hardline cleric Ahmed al-Assir. 15 years of the sentence is for his "involvement in terrorist acts". The judge also added 7 more years of hard labour for Chaker's financing of Al-Assir's illegal armed group, with the court satisfied that he had personally paid for weapons and ammunition to the group. Chaker was reportedly still hiding as of 2020 in Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon since the unfolding of military confrontation of Al-Assir's group against the Lebanese Army.^[14]

Discography

Albums

• 1998: Walah Zaman [Al Khouyoul Records]
• 1999: Baya' El Oolob [Al Khouyoul Records]
• 2000: El Hob El Adeem [Al Khouyoul Records]
• 2000: Sahrat Tarab [Master Melody]
• 2001: Hobak Khayal [Al Khouyoul Records]
• 2003: Layali Beirut [Rotana Records]
• 2003: Sa'at Tarab maa Fadl Shaker Rotana Records
• 2003: Sidi Rouhi [Rotana Records]
• 2004: Saharni El Shok [Rotana Records]
• 2006: Allah Aalam [Rotana Records]
• 2009: Baada Aal Bal [Rotana Records]^{[citation needed]}>