Haifa resident Amir Maron, 37, was arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of incitement to violence against the LGBTQ community after allegedly posting a comment on social media that “in effect called for harm” to the community participating in the Tel Aviv Pride Parade following coverage of Pride events in the city.
Police on Friday asked the Haifa Magistrate’s Court to extend his detention by four days after he spent the night in custody, but the judge ordered his release.
The investigation centered on a comment he allegedly posted in response to Pride-related coverage, in which he wrote: “Once they were destroyed, apparently it is time to destroy again. Sick people, disgusting.”
Sgt.-Maj. Mariana Khouri told the court that “this is a serious incident” and that he “in effect called for harm against the community participating in the Pride parade.”
Defense attorney Sami Faisal argued that this was a “one-time mistake” and said Maron had already expressed regret.
Haifa Magistrate’s Court Judge Jada Basul found there was reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed, stating that “the wording of the comment contains a call for an act of violence against the LGBTQ community, which poses an unnecessary risk.”
However, she ruled there was no justification for keeping him in custody.
Suspect released under ‘restrictive conditions’
She ordered his release under restrictive conditions, including three days of full house arrest at his brother’s home, a requirement to report for questioning as needed, a 30-day ban on using social media “except for viewing only,” and a prohibition on entering the Tel Aviv area for 30 days.
The release was also conditioned on a self-bail of NIS 5,000.
Separately, the Haifa Magistrate’s Court released Haifa resident Or Talnov, who is suspected of making threats against former prime minister Naftali Bennett and the LGBTQ community in social media posts, to house arrest earlier this week.
