More than 200 leading cultural figures call for release of jailed Palestinian leader

More than 200 prominent cultural figures have signed an open letter calling for the release of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, who has been imprisoned in Israel for 23 years following what some legal experts consider a flawed trial. The signatories, including actors, writers, musicians, and entrepreneurs, believe Barghouti is crucial for uniting Palestinian factions and advancing the creation of a Palestinian state. Despite being a popular leader, Israel has refused to release him, even in recent prisoner swaps, allegedly due to his potential influence on Palestinian unity and a two-state solution. Concerns are also rising about potential Israeli legislation that could impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, including Barghouti. The campaign for his release draws parallels to the movement that freed Nelson Mandela, with Mandela himself having compared his situation to Barghouti's.

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