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-Palestinian singer and actor.[1] 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 | 1 April 1969 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-turned-terrorist Ahmed al-Assir and participated in the attacks on the Lebanese Army which evolved into the 2013 Sidon clash.[2][3] As of 2013, he was a wanted fugitive by the Lebanese government and had hidden in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. On 16 December 2020, he was sentenced in absentia to a total of 22 years of imprisonment and hard labour by a Lebanese Military Tribunal.
Background
editHe was born to a Lebanese father, and a Palestinian mother in Lebanon.[4] He grew up in the Ain al-Hilweh in Lebanon.[5]
Music career
edit1998–2011
editFadl 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
editIn 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.[6] 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.[7]
That same year, he was reported to be working on a new album entitled Yalla ma'al salama.[8]
Islamist militant involvement
editIn the early 2010s, Chaker announced he had joined ranks of Ahmed al-Assir radical Islamic organization. As of 2013, Shaker was a wanted fugitive and terrorist for his cooperation in the 2013 Sidon clash between Ahmad al-Assir's terrorist group and the Lebanese Army in which Fadel admitted on video to having killed 2 Lebanese soldiers.[9]
Trial and sentencing
editAfter 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.[4] 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.[10]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- 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]>
References
edit- ^ Stephan, Laure (20 August 2013). "How Fadel Shaker went from torch singer to firebrand Salafist". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Chulov, Martin (24 June 2013). "Lebanese troops say they have overrun cleric's compound after days of fighting". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Amin, Rula (15 July 2013). "Lebanese singer joins Syrian rebels". Youtube.com. Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Lebanon singer Fadel Shaker sentenced to 22 years in prison with hard labour". Middle East Monitor. 17 December 2020.
- ^ "الرئيس عباس يمنح الجنسية الفلسطينية لـ"فضل شاكر"". Al Arabiya. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Fadl Shaker returns to singing through Ramadan series intro". 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Fadl Shaker is Back: Is it Good or Bad News?". 9 May 2018.
- ^ "Fadl Shaker to release new album 'Yalla ma'al Salama'". EgyptToday. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Lebanese singer becomes wanted fugitive after joining militant clashes". Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ Timour Azhari (17 December 2020). "Lebanon court sentences singer Fadel Shaker to 22 years in prison - The Lebanese pop star turned hardliner was sentenced in absentia for providing support to a 'terrorist' group". AlJazeera. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
