Following the news of the arrest of activist William Noon, brother of martyr Joe Noon, by a State Security patrol, condemnatory responses have poured in.
**George Okis**: MP George Okis, a member of the Strong Republic bloc, stated that "the arrest of William Noon by a security agency should be the spark to ignite Revolution 2 against this rotten police system that fears those who challenge the state and intimidates those striving for its establishment." He added on Twitter: "Otherwise, we must say goodbye as a people and a state. The public prosecutor must order his immediate release."
**Sami Gemayel**: The head of the Kataeb party, MP Sami Gemayel, tweeted: "When roles are reversed and they try to transform the families of victims into criminals, we are in the final chapters of the law of the jungle." He emphasized that William Noon is unlawfully detained to silence free voices and suppress the truth, affirming that the port case will not end until its resolution. He added, "Release William Noon immediately."
**Nadine Gemayel**: MP Nadim Gemayel tweeted, questioning where the State Security was when members of the National Party attacked the judiciary during the issuance of the verdict in the case of Bashir's assassination and threatened judges with murder. He criticized the security forces for being influenced by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and for being strong against William Noon and the families of the victims.
**Ziad Al-Hawat**: In the same vein, MP Ziad Al-Hawat tweeted, stating that the attempt to arrest William Noon reflects the absence of state and justice. Instead of arresting the criminals involved in the port explosion, they pursue those demanding justice and truth. He called for William Noon to be released immediately.
**Ashraf Rifi**: MP Ashraf Rifi tweeted: "Oh, authority of oppression and audacity, the arrest of William Noon is a crime added to the obstruction of the investigation into the port explosion." He questioned how the investigation and accountability for this major crime could be hindered without arresting the main criminals while detaining those demanding justice. "This is absurd! Release hero William Noon immediately. You have become puppets serving a party of terrorism, history will curse you."
**Elias Hankach**: MP Elias Hankach from the Lebanese Kataeb bloc called on Twitter for the release of activist William Noon, stating: "This issue concerns all of us. The families of the victims are detained while the accused are free, disgraceful... This is the end of the world!"
**Richard Kouyoumjian**: In a related context, former Minister Richard Kouyoumjian tweeted: "How many mistakes are justified in the name of the law? How many sins are committed in the name of justice? Release William Noon now."
**Michel Moawad**: MP Michel Moawad tweeted: "Once again, the judiciary of the authority resorts to intimidation practices against the families of the Beirut Port explosion victims by summoning them for investigation instead of summoning the wanted individuals responsible for the crime of the century. We reject silencing the voice of truth and obstructing the investigation aimed at sidelining justice and accountability, and demand the immediate release of William Noon!"
**Kamel Chamoun**: MP Kamel Chamoun tweeted: "Finally, our great state arrested the criminals who blew up the port; the shameful state arrests the victim and forgets the real criminal."
**Nemia Efram**: MP Nemia Efram tweeted: "Is this how you handle the file of the port victims? You are pouring oil on the fire when what is needed is the release of the investigation and the arrest of the perpetrators and not the perpetrator for expressing his distress over the attempt to uncover the crime of the century. Absurd. Freedom for William Noon immediately."
**Michel Daher**: MP Michel Daher commented on his Twitter account regarding the arrest of William Noon: "The judiciary should have arrested those who seized the money of the Lebanese and summoned those who mock the state daily, instead of requesting the detention of the brother of a martyr whose only fault is expressing his sincere discontent over the attempt to uncover the crime of the century."
**Fares Saeed**: Former MP Fares Saeed tweeted: "We are all William Noon. Release him and his companions immediately."
**Jihad Bakaradoni**: MP Jihad Bakaradoni told MTV: "The police state will collapse upon itself, and we stand with William Noon and all that he represents, and we will see what happens."
**Razi Al-Hajj**: MP Razi Al-Hajj tweeted: "We claim to be a country that respects the law and institutions, yet we live in a police state and do not defend William Noon today not just as an individual but for a general principle. We are representatives and we will not accept what is happening. They should not think they can silence us."
**Ibrahim Miemeh**: MP Ibrahim Miemeh tweeted: "From inside the State Security center in solidarity with William Noon, we tell the system that is obstructing the investigation into the port explosion that you should not expect us to retreat or submit to your intimidation. We will continue to confront your police methods until justice is realized and accountability is achieved against the criminals responsible for this major crime."
**Nizih Metta**: MP Nizih Metta tweeted: "The arrest of William Noon, based on his 'figurative statement' about the explosion of the Palace of Justice, while no arrests are made against those culpable and wanted for the 'real explosion' that destroyed Beirut and displaced its residents. A security system operating under a regime accustomed to obscuring the facts and the logic of a non-state."
**Mark Dou**: MP Mark Dou tweeted: "The families of the August 4 victims have the right to access the truth regarding the Beirut port explosion. It is the peak of impudence to arrest William Noon while those who blew up the port and obstructed the investigation roam free!"
**Ghiath Yazbek**: MP Ghiath Yazbek tweeted: "William Noon’s crime is that he does not possess smart missiles but holds verbal dynamite stored in his sad heart and the heart of his grieving mother. His crime is that he broke the glass window in a court that justice abandoned, and he did not shatter the state and its dignity; his crime is that he seeks assistance from the state, disturbing the men of the regime."
**Paula Yaakoubian**: MP Paula Yaakoubian announced via MTV that the arrest of William Noon is unacceptable: "This is a black day for justice. Stop this farce and I hope to respect the sanctity of blood and sacrifice."
**Alan Hakim**: Former Minister Alan Hakim tweeted: "Freedom of expression is protected by the constitution and the Charter of Human Rights. Justice should be applied against those obstructing the investigation into the port explosion. Freedom for William Noon."
**Michel Franjieh**: Former Minister Michel Franjieh tweeted: "A blatant and responsible regime, a security apparatus that is accused, afraid to the extent of arresting William Noon, a symbol of defense for the blood of the port martyrs, trying to prevent the judiciary from obliterating the truth. These seem like desperate acts by perpetrators who are attempting to evade the forthcoming accountability. Enough. Release William immediately."
**Renewal Bloc**: In a statement, the "Renewal Bloc" stated that "with the arrest of William Noon, this authority has stripped itself of its fig leaf, as it oppresses the families of the martyrs of the crime of the century while continuing the crime of obstructing the investigation into the port explosion." They noted that "the arrest of the activist William Noon is an affront to the martyrs of the port and a targeting of all Lebanese who support justice." They added: "This authority and its patron must understand that this abuse will not halt the path to justice." They called for "the immediate release of Noon," warning that "continuing oppression will inevitably lead to an explosion."
**Lady of the Mountain Meeting**: A statement from the Lady of the Mountain Meeting said: "The arrest of William Noon today, searching his home, and listening to his mother at her home resembles what is happening in Iran, which is currently experiencing a freedom uprising. Instead of the judicial and security authorities continuing their investigations into the terrorist explosion in Beirut port and arresting those responsible for killing Lebanese and destroying their capital's property, they detained activist William Noon, brother of Joe Noon, a victim of the port explosion. The Lady of the Mountain Meeting strongly condemns this arrest and demands the judicial and security authorities immediately release Noon, as it is unacceptable by any logic to pursue the victim while overlooking the criminal."
**Progressive Socialist Party**: Not far behind, the Progressive Socialist Party issued a statement saying: "The continued police-style treatment of the families of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, the latest of which is the arrest of martyr Joe Noon’s brother, William Noon, and the continued obstruction of investigation and justice regarding this tragic catastrophe that has afflicted all Lebanese, compels us to reiterate our explicit demand for justice in this file without any evasion, holding accountable all those responsible, regardless of who they are, without any delay, and to investigate the causes and perpetrators of this disaster instead of retaliating against the families of the victims who deserve, at minimum, justice for their children."
