Judge Demands Death Penalty for Asir, Supporters
First Military Investigation Judge Riyad Abu Ghida demanded on Friday the death penalty for Salafist cleric Ahmed al-Asir and several of his supporters over the Abra clashes with the army near the southern city of Sidon.
Media reports said that Abu Ghida requested the death penalty to al-Asir and 56 others.
Different prison terms were demanded for other suspects, who were referred to the military tribunal.
In June 2013, Asir's supporters opened fire on an army checkpoint, leaving around 18 soldiers and more than 20 gunmen dead.
The gunbattles concentrated in the area of Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque and nearby buildings in Abra.
Asir, a 45-year-old cleric who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, is no where to be found along with singer turned Salafist Fadel Shaker.
Asir teamed up with Shaker, a onetime prominent singer, when around two years ago he began agitating for Hizbullah to disarm.
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