Lebanon: Notorious ‘Cleric’ Sentenced to Death, Accomplice Gets 15 Years’ Hard Labor
Local Editor
Firebrand extremist so-called ‘cleric' Ahmed al-Asir was on Thursday sentenced to death in the case of the 2013 Abra clashes as singer-turned-militant Fadel Shaker was sentenced in absentia to 15 years of hard labor.
The Lebanese court also sentenced to death two other defendants and five extremists who remain at large, including al-Asir's brother Amjad.
Capital punishment is legal in Lebanon, but there has been an effective moratorium in place since 2004, without any executions carried out despite judgements to that effect.
Shaker, who was tried in absentia, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, while another 30 defendants were handed life sentences.
Lebanese Al-Jadeed TV said families of detainees blocked the al-Nejmeh Square road in the southern city of Sidon after the verdicts were announced.
Tight security measures had been taken around the Military Court in Beirut during the trial session.
As he appeared before the court, al-Asir "refused to recognize the court and its rulings" and said it was "subject to Iranian hegemony," NNA said.
He also refused to recognize a military lawyer appointed by the court.
Al-Assir's discourse was highly sectarian and he often accused Lebanon's army of failing to protect Sunnis.
He encouraged his supporters to join Syria's mainly Sunni militants and to rise up against Hezbollah.
Al-Asir also hit headlines with media stunts, including by taking a group of his followers to the trendy winter ski resort of Faraya in early 2013.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
- Related News
