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Barghouti was convicted by an Israeli court in 2004 for directing attacks that killed Israeli civilians during the second intifada.
By Shula Rosen
Zack Polanski, leader of the UK Green Party, has defended his decision to wear a T-shirt bearing the phrase “free Marwan” after the image drew criticism on social media.
The slogan refers to Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian political figure who is serving five life sentences in Israel for his role in orchestrating terror attacks between 2001 and 2002.
Barghouti was convicted by an Israeli court in 2004 for directing attacks that killed Israeli civilians during the second intifada.
He was found guilty of the murder of four Israelis and a Greek monk, attempted murder and membership in a terrorist organization.
He is serving five consecutive life sentences in addition to 40 years.
Polanski, who is Jewish, has previously engaged in anti-Israel rhetoric and recently signed a letter calling for British Israelis who served in the Israel Defense Forces to be placed on a list by British authorities and subjected to a “secondary screening” process when arriving in the United Kingdom from Tel Aviv.
After criticism followed the circulation of a social media post showing him wearing the shirt, Polanski responded online.
“Good. Let’s talk about Marwan Barghouti.
“Imprisoned for 25 years. An Inter-Parliamentary Union report found he was not given a fair trial.
“Nelson Mandela: ‘What is happening to Barghouti is exactly the same as what happened to me.’”
Polanski later expanded on his position in comments to The New Arab.
“What really unsettles critics isn’t the shirt.
“It’s the idea that Palestinians might have a leader capable of uniting their people and leading the fight for liberation from apartheid the same way Nelson Mandela did.”
The image also prompted widespread criticism. Heidi Bachram, a Brighton-based pro-Israel activist, wrote on X: “What the hell is Zack Polanski doing wearing a shirt to free the Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti who murdered five civilians.”
The exchange has drawn attention to Barghouti’s imprisonment and Polanski’s public support for his release, generating debate on social media and among political activists in the United Kingdom.
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