Palestinians campaign for convicted terrorist Barghouti to receive Nobel Peace Prize
Barghouti was sentenced to five life terms in prison for his role in terrorist attacks against Israelis during the Second Intifada.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHUpdated: APRIL 13, 2016 02:13Jailed Fatah official Marwan Barghouti(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinians in Ramallah launched a worldwide campaign on Tuesday to nominate jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti for the Nobel Peace Prize – despite his life imprisonment for five terrorist murders.The campaign is being sponsored by the Palestinian Commission for Prisoners, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, told reporters that the move to nominate her husband for the prestigious award would draw international attention to the “plight” of some 7,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.The campaign will include organizing rallies and marches throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip in support of the nomination. Organizers said they are also planning a massive campaign in the local and international media to promote the idea of giving Barghouti the Nobel Peace Prize.Barghouti was arrested by the IDF in Ramallah in 2002 and sentenced two years later to five consecutive life terms in prison for his role in terrorist attacks against Israelis during the second intifada.Recently, the Tunisian parliament announced its support for nominating Barghouti for the prize. The announcement came during Fadwa Barghouti’s visit to Tunisia.The campaign is also backed by Adolfo Perez Esquivel, an Argentine human rights activist, pacifist and writer who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980.
