Six right-wing protestors who protested against the tent established by a murderous terrorist's family have been ordered released from prison. 

The six had originally announced their intention to tear down the tent, which was established in an eastern Jerusalem village by the family of the terrorist who murdered eight yeshiva students in cold blood on Thursday night.  The Arab village lies just east of the Jewish neighborhood of Talpiot.

The men were arrested on Sunday, held overnight, and ordered freed on Monday. Jerusalem Magistrates Court Justice Chaim Liran said the police never should have arrested the six.  He also turned down the police request to have them banned from coming within 500 meters of Jabal Mukabar, the home of the terrorist, for the next 45 days.  The judge freed them with no restrictions.

At least one of the six, Noam Federman, was apparently pleasantly surprised by the verdict - as he had asked at first to have Judge Liran disqualified for his "known leftist views" and for "involving his political opinions in his rulings."

'Protesting is a Basic Democratic Right'

Liran ruled, however, that the suspects had "gathered at the Haas Promenade in southeastern Jerusalem - very distant [approximately a kilometer - ed.] from Jabal Mukabar-  to protest the mourners' tent and the unfurling of Hamas and Hizbullah flags there... This gathering is one of the basic human rights of a democratic society...  It appears that under these circumstances, means that do not involve arrest or detainment could have been employed."

One of the six, Baruch Marzel of Hevron, said afterwards that he plans to sue the police for wrongful arrest.  "The police act like heroes at Jews' expense, arresting us and placing us in prison, while those who wave Hamas and Hizbullah flags are free to do what they want," he said.

Calling for Tent's Destruction

Knesset Speaker MK Dalia Itzik (Kadima) and Likud MK Gideon Saar have called for the mourners' tent to be destroyed, while Labor MK Danny Yatom said it need not be. The police have added manpower for the protection of the site, and do not plan to remove it. Jordan refused to allow such a tent to be established in its borders on Friday, citing "national security" concerns.