Over two hundred international cultural figures, including Margaret Atwood, Sir Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Ruffalo, Sting, Paul Simon, Stephen Fry, Delia Smith, Ai Wei Wei, Javier Bardem, Brian Eno, Annie Lennox, Sir Richard Branson and Zadie Smith have signed an open letter calling for the release of Marwan Barghouti, widely described as the “Mandela of Palestine”
The signatories, spanning film, music, literature and sport, are urging the United Nations and governments around the world to pressure the Israeli government to free Marwan, 66, who has spent 23 years in prison following what legal experts describe as a flawed trial. Marwan, an elected parliamentarian at the time of his arrest, remains the most popular Palestinian leader, consistently topping polls as the people's choice to lead.
The campaign echoes the cultural movement that was central to securing the freedom of Nelson Mandela and ending apartheid in South Africa. As Mandela himself said in 2002, “what is happening to Barghouti is the same as what happened to me”. This open letter is the start of a wider public effort organised by the International Campaign to Free Marwan with the ultimate aim of helping to secure long-lasting peace in the region.
British musician Brian Eno said: “History shows us that cultural voices can shift the course of politics. Just as global solidarity helped free Nelson Mandela, we all have the power to accelerate the day that Marwan Barghouti walks free. His release would mark a turning point in this long struggle and bring much-needed hope to all of us.”
Selma Dabbagh, author and lawyer said: “Marwan Barghouti's trial was widely recognised as a sham. The body that represents parliaments around the world – the Inter-Parliamentary Union – undertook their own assessment and concluded it was deeply flawed. Marwan's release would be a critical step in allowing Palestinians to determine their own leadership, whatever shape that may take.”
The appeal comes following the launch of the new International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti on 29 November 2025, as concerns mount over Barghouti's treatment in prison. Israeli cabinet member Itmar Ben-Gvir filmed himself in August taunting a gaunt-looking Barghouti in his prison cell, and in the weeks following the visit, Barghouti was beaten unconscious by guards during a prison transfer.
Organisers of the letter say the current Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to consider releasing Marwan because of his ability to unify the Palestinian people and his capability to achieve lasting peace.
NOTES
The full statement reads: “We express our grave concern at the continuing imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti, his violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned. We call upon the United Nations and the governments of the world to actively seek the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison.”
Signatories include:
Angela Davis, Annie Ernaux, Annie Lennox, Arundhati Roy, Bassem Youssef, Bella Freud, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bobby Gillespie, Brian Cox, Brian Eno, Carice van Houten, Cynthia Nixon, David Byrne, Delia Smith, Eric Cantona, Eyal Weizman, Fontaines D.C., Gabor Maté, Gary Lineker, Jarvis Cocker, Javier Bardem, Josh O'Connor, Julie Christie, Justine Triet, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Mabel, Margaret Atwood, Mark Ruffalo, Massive Attack, Michael Stipe, Nan Goldin, Naomi Klein, Neneh Cherry, Olga Tokarczuk, Paul Simon, Pedro Almodovar, Peter Gabriel, Philip Pullman, Rebecca Solnit, Riz Ahmed, Rob Delaney, Robert Macfarlane, Sally Rooney, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Jonathan Pryce, Sir Richard Branson, Stephen Fry, Sting, Susan Sarandon, Tilda Swinton, William Dalrymple, Zadie Smith
A full list of the 200+ names is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-V7nl_oDgZY4JzfgGh289SB8hSl_swG9XeRbqlmtoyc/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Further quotes
“I call for the immediate release of Marwan Barghouti, who has been imprisoned by Israel for 23 years in scandalous conditions. He embodies the possibility of peace which Netenyahu refuses, determined as he is to continue with the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.” – Annie Ernaux
“Palestine's most popular leader has suffered 23 years of imprisonment and solitary confinement, severe torture and starvation conditions in an Israeli jail. Everyone that believes in freedom and dignity for the Palestinian people should join in the call for his immediate release. ” – Brian Cox
International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti
#FreeMarwan
freemarwan.org