UK MP calls for Marwan Barghouti's release amid Israeli abuse reports
3 Min Read
UK MP Ellie Chowns calls for Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti's release, calling him a unifying figure, as reports detail him suffering a violent assault by Israeli prison guards.
-
A man walks past a mural depicting the Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, with a message that reads in Arabic, "See you soon", on an Israeli separation wall in the West Bank city of Beit Lahm, on August 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A member of the British Parliament representing the Green Party has called for the release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, describing him as a vital political figure who could help lead Palestinians toward unity and peace.
“Marwan Barghouti is a powerful unifying voice for Palestinians who could potentially play a crucial role in securing meaningful and lasting peace in the region,” said MP Ellie Chowns. Her statement comes amid renewed international attention on Barghouti, as new details emerge about his treatment in Israeli custody.
Palestinian sources report that Barghouti was violently assaulted by Israeli prison guards on September 14 while being transferred between the Ganot and Megiddo prisons. The 66-year-old reportedly suffered four broken ribs during the attack.
His son, Arab Barghouti, said that eight guards from the Israeli prison authority assaulted Marwan while in transit. "What we know is that while they were transferring my father, they stopped along the way and eight security guards... started beating my father up in different ways, by kicking him, by throwing him on the ground, by punching him, focusing on the head area, chest area, and legs as well," he explained.
In an interview with Al Mayadeen last year in October, Barghouti pointed out that since October 7, 2023, Barghouti has been subjected to pressure, beaten, and forcefully dragged and has been transferred between four or five Israeli prisons.
"Despite everything he is enduring, my father met his lawyer with his head held high and his usual smile," Barghouti said, adding that his father reaffirms to the Palestinian people and the world that "he stands firm against the occupation."
According to the Palestinian leader's son, Barghouti's message has been clear throughout the past 22 years: "His sole concern is uniting the Palestinian people."
Barghouti’s role in Palestinian politics
Marwan Barghouti, a senior leader in the Fatah movement, is widely regarded as one of the most prominent and respected figures in Palestinian politics. Many view him as a potential successor to Abbas and a symbol of unity across political factions.
Barghouti has been imprisoned by the Israeli occupation since 2002 and is serving five life sentences on charges related to the Second Intifada, which began in 2000. He has consistently denied the charges and rejects the authority of the Israeli court system, citing his status as a member of the Palestinian parliament.
In the most recent prisoner exchange between Hamas and the Israeli occupation, which saw the release of 1,968 Palestinian detainees in return for 20 Israeli captives, negotiators from the Resistance group pushed hard for Barghouti’s inclusion. Despite their efforts, the Israeli occupation refused to release him.
Barghouti’s continued imprisonment remains a central issue for many Palestinians, and his case is increasingly drawing international attention, particularly in the context of human rights and political legitimacy.
