The Knesset Ethics Committee decided that MK Said Nafa (Balad) has the right to demonstrate in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad, The Jerusalem Post learned on Friday.

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel submitted a complaint to the Ethics Committee in late February, after Nafa participated in a rally in support of Assad in Haifa. According to the Legal Forum´s complaint, 500 people, including Nafa, waved Syrian flags and photos of Assad.

"Participation in a demonstration meant to support a dictator suspected of serious crimes against humanity and daily massacres of innocent people…is not an expression of faith to the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," the letter reads. "MK Nafa certainly is not fulfilling his duty to faithfully serve the values of human dignity and the rule of law."

In addition, according to the letter, the demonstrators did not receive a permit from the police, and as such, the Legal Forum says it does not fall under MKs´ right to free speech.

The Ethics Committee, however, rejected the Legal Forum´s complaint last week.

"Participation in a political conference, even if its messages are not pleasant to the ear, to say the least, falls under the freedom of political action and expression of MKs," committee chairman Yitzhak Vaknin (Shas) wrote in response. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 03/23/12)