More than 200 cultural and public figures have signed a petition calling for the release of top Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti, the group organizing the effort said on Wednesday, the third day of the drive.
Among the celebrities who signed the petition are anti-Israel activist Angela Davis; Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei; novelist Margaret Atwood; and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Cynthia Nixon, Mark Ruffalo and Ian McKellen.
The list also includes several Jewish names, including Paul Simon, Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Naomi Klein, Nan Goldin, Peter Beinart, Gabor Maté, Ilana Glazer and Hannah Einbinder.
The petition expresses “grave concern at the continuing imprisonment” of the convicted terrorist, and denounces alleged “violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights” by Israeli prison authorities.
“We call upon the United Nations and the Governments of the World to actively seek the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison,” the statement adds.
Barghouti, 66, one of the most notorious figures of the Second Intifada, was convicted in 2002 for masterminding terror attacks against Israelis. He was sentenced to five consecutive life terms plus 40 years.
Although Barghouti’s name has periodically surfaced during prisoner-exchange negotiations, successive Israeli governments have refused to release him, citing a risk that he could reignite large-scale terrorist violence.
According to an October poll by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Barghouti would win if elections for the leadership of the Palestinian Authority were to be called today.
