Some news websites appear to believe that defending Walid Ghayyad can shield him from the bad reputation associated with his name. In reality, however, such efforts merely revive public attention to his long record of exploiting his proximity to Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Rahi.

In recent days, we have read several articles that clearly fall into the category of image-laundering—aimed at rehabilitating Ghayyad, and perhaps even the Patriarch himself. One of these pieces was published by a website that perfectly fits the saying “a lid for every pot,” as its conduct mirrors Ghayyad’s own: a platform known for routinely defending wrongdoers and siding with whoever pays more.

Notably, the coverage portrayed Ghayyad as a national figure—an assessment that may eventually compel us to publish what we know. Until now, we have refrained from delving into personal matters that would not only tarnish the individual concerned, but also harm Bkerke and the values it represents—values we are certainly more committed to than someone who built a residence in its immediate vicinity in a blatant and unprecedented violation in the history of the Maronite Church.

Accordingly, we advise Ghayyad to ask his “friends” to do him a favor by remaining silent, and to urge the website—whose history is riddled with violations, blackmail, and moral offenses—to stop writing about him. Otherwise, we too may be forced to dedicate reports on our screen exposing its true nature and record.