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Celebrities back 'Free Marwan' campaign for Palestinian leader / Photo: © AFP
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Celebrities back 'Free Marwan' campaign for Palestinian leader
More than 200 celebrities, including actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Josh O’Connor, called on Israel on Wednesday to release imprisoned Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti, who is seen by supporters as a key unifying figure.
Barghouti, 66, has been in jail since 2002 but is regarded as a likely major player in the creation of any Palestinian state because of his ability to unite various political factions.
The open letter calling for his release featured film A-listers Josh O’Connor, Benedict Cumberbatch and Javier Bardem, as well as musicians Fontaines D.C. and Sting.
Top-selling writers Sally Rooney, Annie Ernaux and Margaret Atwood also lent their support, as did artist Nan Goldin and British footballer-turned-broadcaster Gary Lineker.
"We express our grave concern at the continuing imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti, his violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned," they wrote.
"We call upon the United Nations and the governments of the world to actively seek the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison."
Most of the signatories were already active in efforts to bring an end to Israel's war in Gaza, but the new letter is part of an international "Free Marwan" campaign launched by Barghouti's family.
Sometimes dubbed the "Mandela of Palestine" by his supporters, Barghouti was handed five life sentences by an Israeli court in 2004 over deadly attacks during the 2000-2005 second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.
He was an MP at the time and refused to recognise the court during his trial, which was later denounced as flawed by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a body that represents parliaments around the world.
Israel has refused to release Barghouti -- known for his anti-corruption stance -- in any prisoner exchanges carried out since the Gaza war erupted after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Barghouti's son said in October that his father had been severely beaten by Israeli guards during a prison transfer in September, resulting in four broken ribs and head injuries.
In a video he shared on social media in August, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was seen threatening a physically weak Marwan Barghouti in jail.
D. Meier--BTZ
