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UK Greens head Polanski calls to free convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti
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- UK Green Party leader Zach Polanski wore a shirt calling for the release of convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti.
- Polanski defended the shirt, claiming Barghouti was imprisoned without a fair trial and comparing him to Nelson Mandela.
- Polanski also recently signed a letter advocating for investigations into British citizens serving in the IDF.
Green Party leader Zach Polanski sparked controversy by wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Free Marwan" at a party event. The shirt, featuring Palestinian flag colors, referred to Marwan Barghouti, a former leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades convicted of murder for his role in terrorist attacks during the Second Intifada.
Free Marwan
Polanski defended his choice on social media, asserting that Barghouti has been jailed since 2004 without a fair trial. He drew a parallel between Barghouti and Nelson Mandela, citing an unverified quote from the anti-apartheid leader. This incident follows recent controversy where Polanski signed an open letter urging the UK government to investigate and screen IDF veterans with British citizenship at the border, citing accusations of war crimes in Gaza by the UN Human Rights Council and Amnesty International.
The IDF has been accused of horrific war crimes in Gaza by the UN Human Rights Council & Amnesty International. It is just common sense that those involved in war crimes should be held to account.
The letter, organized by Declassified UK and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, called for airport disclosure requirements for IDF service and investigations into veterans. Meanwhile, campaigners, including Greta Thunberg and actors Mark Ruffalo and Liam Cunningham, collaborated with Polanski on an Instagram post comparing Barghouti to Mandela and advocating for his statue in London's Parliament Square. Activists attempting to erect such a statue were intercepted by police.
Marwan will take his rightful place alongside other civil rights leaders
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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