‘Free Marwan’: International campaign calls for release of jailed Palestinian leader
An international campaign demanding the release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned in Israel since 2002, was relaunched on Monday
RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – An international campaign demanding the release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned in Israel since 2002, was relaunched on Monday with coordinated events across multiple countries.
Barghouti, 66, a senior figure in President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, has been serving five life sentences for his role in the Second Intifada, which began in 2000. He is widely regarded as a unifying figure in Palestinian politics.
Muqbel Barghouti, his brother, told Anadolu that the campaign included simultaneous gatherings in London, South Africa, France, Italy, several Arab countries, and Barghouti’s hometown of Kobar in the occupied West Bank. “The campaign continues decades-long efforts to secure his release,” he said.
Activities over the weekend in London featured demonstrations and exhibitions of paintings and drawings advocating for Barghouti’s freedom. In France, which has granted him honorary citizenship in over 50 municipalities, events were also held to highlight his cause.
British activists visited Kobar on Saturday, where a mural depicting Barghouti with the phrase “Free Marwan” was painted across a football field.
The campaign is organized in partnership with human rights institutions and includes the participation of Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Muqbel Barghouti emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the release of Palestinian prisoners, citing the deaths of more than 90 detainees since October 2023. “Prisoners in Israeli jails face harsh conditions, torture, and killings,” he said.
Prisoner advocacy groups report that Marwan Barghouti has suffered assaults in custody, including multiple rib fractures inflicted by Israeli soldiers.
Despite his prominence, he was excluded from the list of Palestinian prisoners released under the ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on October 10.
The ceasefire, mediated by Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar and supported by the United States, ended two years of Israeli attacks that killed over 70,000 people—mostly women and children—and injured more than 171,000.
The first phase of the deal includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, reconstruction of Gaza, and the establishment of a new governing mechanism excluding Hamas.
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