London Statue of Terrorist Marwan Barghouti Under Review
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
A life-size statue of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti has been erected on the roof of Palestine House in London, prompting a review by the Camden Council. The review was triggered by a complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) regarding planning permission. Barghouti is serving multiple life sentences in Israel for murder convictions. This is the second attempt to display the statue in London, following an earlier intervention by police.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A statue of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti was installed on Palestine House in London.
- The Camden Council is reviewing the statue for required planning permission.
- UK Lawyers for Israel filed a complaint leading to the council's review.
- Marwan Barghouti is serving multiple life sentences in Israel for murder.
- This is the second time the statue has been displayed in London.
- Palestine House has faced previous issues with outdoor installations.
A life-size statue of Marwan Barghouti, a convicted terrorist and Fatah leader, has been installed on the roof of Palestine House, a Palestinian cultural center in London's Camden district. The statue depicts Barghouti with raised, manacled hands forming a victory sign, placed next to a Palestinian flag. The Camden Council is now reviewing the installation to determine if specific planning permission was required. This review was initiated after a complaint from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a British pro-Israel legal organization. Barghouti, 66, is serving five life sentences plus 40 years in Israel for his role in attacks that killed five people, for which he was convicted in 2004. Despite his imprisonment, he remains a significant figure in Palestinian politics, with an international campaign advocating for his release.
This is not the first time the statue has appeared in London. In June, activists attempted to place it in Parliament Square, but police intervened and removed it. It has since been relocated to Palestine House, which is led by Osama Qashoo, a UK-based Palestinian filmmaker and activist, and a co-founder of the Free Gaza movement. Palestine House hosts cultural events and exhibitions. UKLFI's objection primarily concerns urban planning regulations, arguing the statue and its base were not part of the approved plans for the building, which is in a protected zone. They believe its visibility from the street may necessitate new authorization. Palestine House has previously faced scrutiny from the council for other outdoor installations, including Palestinian flags, a Gaza Cola advertisement, and a "Stop the Genocide" sign, some of which led to removal requests or retroactive permit denials.
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