British campaigners seek to install statue of terrorist Marwan Barghouti in Parliament Square

Backers of Marwan Barghouti, jailed for involvement in deadly Second Intifada attacks, aimed to position his figure among Britain's notable leaders during a symbolic London demonstration.

Jailed Fatah official Marwan Barghouti

(photo credit: REUTERS)

ByMICHAEL STARR

JUNE 5, 2026 07:56

Campaigners tried to erect a statue of convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti in London's Parliament Square on Wednesday, according to a group pushing for his release from an Israeli prison.

The statue of the former al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades leader during the Second Intifada, convicted on five murder counts tied to terrorist attacks, reached Parliament Square yet was stopped by police.

Officers stayed on site until the Barghouti statue was taken away by the activists.

The Free Marwan Now campaign stated that one day a statue of Barghouti would stand in the square next to bronze figures such as Oliver Cromwell, Benjamin Disraeli, and Nelson Mandela.

"Marwan will take his rightful place alongside other civil rights leaders," the activist campaign said in an Instagram post shared with climate activist Greta Thunberg and actors Mark Ruffalo and Liam Cunningham.

Supporters liken Barghouti to Nelson Mandela

The campaign rejected claims that Barghouti, imprisoned since 2004, had carried out the crimes he faced and drew parallels to Mandela.

"Nelson Mandela was once politically isolated and labeled a terrorist before being recognized as a global symbol of freedom and justice," said the campaign. "Marwan Barghouti faces a similar fate."