LONDON: Hundreds of leading entertainment and cultural figures have signed an open letter calling for the release of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, The Guardian reported.
The 66-year-old peace advocate, who has spent 23 years in Israeli prison, is widely viewed as offering the best prospects for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict due to his reputation as a unifying figure.
“We express our grave concern at the continuing imprisonment of Marwan Barghouti, his violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned,” the letter reads.
“We call upon the UN and the governments of the world to actively seek the release of Marwan Barghouti from Israeli prison.”
Signatories include authors Margaret Atwood, Philip Pullman, Zadie Smith and Annie Ernaux; actors Sir Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Josh O’Connor, Mark Ruffalo and Stephen Fry; and musicians Sting, Paul Simon, Brian Eno and Annie Lennox.
