24 Years On: Free Marwan Barghouti ‘before it’s too late’

On this day, 24 years since the imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti, we, the undersigned organisations and individuals, stand in unwavering solidarity with him and with all Palestinian political prisoners.

One of the most prominent symbols of Palestinian resistance and political leadership, Barghouti was on 15 April 2002 abducted by Israeli soldiers disguised as ambulance personnel, in Ramallah, where he served as an elected parliamentarian.

He was taken to Israel in violation of the Geneva Conventions and was later convicted to five life sentences plus 40 years in a trial widely condemned as illegitimate and politically motivated.

Now over two decades in prison, he is regarded as a unifying figure among Palestinians and is often compared to former Robben Island prisoner and anti-apartheid struggle stalwart, Nelson Mandela.

Reports of multiple assaults

Reports of multiple assaults on Barghouti – including being repeatedly attacked by a dog, and being severely beaten and left bleeding for more than two hours – have left us deeply perturbed.

This follows a recent video clip, in which Israel’s far right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was seen taunting an emaciated looking Barghouthi, threatening to “wipe out” anyone who “messes with the nation of Israel”.

Barghouti’s family has stated that “the only way to save his life, is to demand his immediate release – before it’s too late”.

Imprisonment used to entrench occupation

Barghouti’s continued imprisonment reflects the broader suppression of Palestinian aspirations for freedom, justice, dignity and self-determination.

Today, over 9600 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli jails, including some 350 children! Reports from human rights organisations, have consistently documented patterns of arbitrary detention, administrative detention without trial, torture, ill-treatment, sexual abuse and denial of basic legal rights. These practices constitute grave violations of international law and fundamental human rights.

The conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners, including prolonged solitary confinement, restricted access to family and legal counsel, physical abuse, and now, the passing of legislation enabling the death penalty, mirror some of the most horrific chapters of our own history under apartheid.

As Israel continues its genocide in Gaza and tightens its stranglehold over the West Bank, the state sanctioned execution of Palestinian prisoners is an extension of Israel’s ethnic cleansing agenda.

Approximately 1 million Palestinians have at some point faced Israeli imprisonment since 1948. Imprisonment is part of a systemic attempt by the occupation to crush Palestinian resistance. However, as was the case in apartheid South Africa, the incarceration of political leaders, activists and ordinary people cannot extinguish legitimate struggle for freedom.

Free Marwan Campaign

In 2013, the first international campaign to free Marwan Barghouti and all Palestinian political prisoners was launched by former Robben Islander prisoners, Ahmed Kathrada and Kwedi Mkalipi, and Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, from Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island.

Numerous global leaders signed the ‘Robben Island Declaration’ stating, “As international efforts led to the release of Nelson Mandela and of all the anti-apartheid prisoners, we believe that the international community must help to secure the freedom of Marwan Barghouti and all Palestinian prisoners, as an integral part of its moral, legal and political responsibility to assist the Palestinian people in the realisation of their rights. We therefore call, and pledge to act, for the release of Marwan Barghouti and all Palestinian prisoners.”

Today, we reaffirm this pledge, and reiterate our support for the Free Marwan campaign, which calls for a renewal of the 2013 international campaign.

We therefore call on:

The South African government to escalate diplomatic and legal efforts in international forums to hold Israel accountable and to cut diplomatic and all economic ties with Israel;
Civil society, trade unions, faith-based organisations, businesses, political parties, artists, sports people, activists and individuals to raise their voices in support of the Free Marwan campaign;
Communities and organisations to symbolically mark Palestine Prisoners’ Day on 17 April; and,
The international community to intensify pressure on Israel for the immediate and unconditional release of Barghouti and all Palestinian political prisoners.

Mandela was not forgotten during his imprisonment, and neither will Barghouti and the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails.

Freedom for Marwan Barghouti! Freedom for all Palestinian political prisoners! Freedom for Palestine!

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Issued by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anele Gcwabe

Communications Manager

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

083-278-8832

anele@kathradafoundation.org

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