🔗 Share this article

A global campaign has been launched to obtain the freedom of Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian prisoner considered by numerous observers as the primary candidate to head a future Palestinian state.

Intensifying Grassroots Movement

Successive surveys continually demonstrate he is the most popular Palestinian politician in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Street art featuring the message "Free Marwan" are emerging in the British metropolis, and a large-scale creative exhibit appeared in Kobar village, close to Ramallah.

Judicial Background

Barghouti remains incarcerated by Israel for more than two decades after being found guilty for organizing attacks that caused the loss of life of five civilians.

The trial process was described as fundamentally unfair by the international parliamentary body.

Political Stance

Barghouti, a prominent figure of the Fatah party, is a strong proponent of the two-state framework.

Many analysts believe Israel continues to refuse his release because they recognize he would become an effective representative for the Palestinian cause.

Prison Conditions

The political leader has repeatedly put in segregated detention without consistent access to his family.

He has been subjected to four major attacks during prison since 2023, yet reportedly continues to be fit and competent to assume leadership responsibilities if released.

Human Rights

He has not seen his family for 36 months, and his legal representatives have only managed to see him just five visits in 24 months.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has been barred from seeing him, constituting a breach of human rights protocols.

Recent Developments

Most recently, Israel's national security minister has been filmed threatening and mentioning the death penalty against the detained figure.

The Israeli parliament is reviewing new laws that would enable the death penalty for those found guilty for politically driven killings.

Political Significance

As a central figure of both Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organization, but imprisoned while Yasser Arafat remained in charge, many believe Barghouti could restore credibility to both movements.

These entities have suffered erosion during the extended governance of current president Mahmoud Abbas.

Court Ruling

An Israeli court in 2004 delivered five life sentences against Barghouti, plus 40 years for his claimed participation in coordinating deadly attacks during the period of conflict.

Relative's Account

In recent events, his wife Fadwa Barghouti has provided her first interviews to Israeli media outlets.

She emphasized that her husband "sees the peaceful resolution as the way forward to establish harmony."

His son Arab Barghouti remarked that his father "symbolizes hope to Palestinians at a time when there are attempts to muzzle his influence and make him forgotten."

He further stated: "Seeing people around the world advocate for him gives me hope. I wish our family's experience was exceptional, but countless of Palestinian families suffer the same pain."

"Celebrating him in this manner is not only a demand for his release – it is a demand for the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners and a stance for equity for every family still hoping."