Today, May 1st, 2009, Nael Albarghouthi of Ramallah became the longest serving political prisoner in the world.
The previous record of 31 years and 26 days was also held by Said Alatabah, another Palestinian in Israeli jails who was released last August.
Albarghouthi was imprisoned on April 4th, 1978 at the age of 21 and has already been in prison 10 years longer than he has ever been free.
I’d imagine that were his captors not Israeli, Nael’s tragic case will have had massive international exposure. Nontheless, he is only one of over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners languishign in Israeli jails, including more than 300 children-and the 11 Palestinians rounded up across the West Bank last night.
Oh, and I’ve counted at least one Nael Barghouthi poster in Ramallah covered with Abbasshole’s face.
Related posts:
- Incompetence in the face of oppression
- Breaking: Israeli incursion into Gaza
- Eleven Thousand Hostages
- Mustafa Barghouthi Sets the Record Straight
- Israel has a problem with education
Why was he detained? His name doesn't even come up on Google, and the linked article is equally void of any substantive info??
Posted by Alex | May 1, 2009, 10:26 pmNael Barghouti is a Hamas leader. The veteran Hamas official was arrested by Israeli forces on April 4, 1978. The native of the West Bank city of Ramallah is suspected of ordering a 2002 hotel bombing in the Israeli city of Natanya that left 20 Israeli nationals dead. An Israeli military court sentenced Barghouti to life in prison following his arrest. As for the Guinness Book of World Records claim: Guinness Book of World Records would not confirm it measures such a world record or that Barghouti would top the category if it existed – contrary to what is stated in the "Maan News Agency" (very reliable source there)
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:48 amCan a man jailed for murder still be considered a political prisoner? Does that matter to those making a hero out of him? Nael Barghouti Palestinian Nael Barghouti
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:50 amCan a man jailed for murder still be considered a political prisoner? Does that matter to those making a hero out of him? Nael Barghouti Palestinian Nael Barghouti
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:50 amCan a man jailed for murder still be considered a political prisoner? Does that matter to those making a hero out of him? Nael Barghouti Palestinian Nael Barghouti
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:50 amPalestine and Israel Will Exchange Prisoners Friday, 28 December 2007 Nael Barghouthi, who sent the Palestinians who blew themselves up in a hotel in Natanya in 2002 killing 20 Israelis is also nominee for being released in the deal.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:57 amPalestine and Israel Will Exchange Prisoners Friday, 28 December 2007 Nael Barghouthi, who sent the Palestinians who blew themselves up in a hotel in Natanya in 2002 killing 20 Israelis is also nominee for being released in the deal.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:57 amPalestine and Israel Will Exchange Prisoners Friday, 28 December 2007 Nael Barghouthi, who sent the Palestinians who blew themselves up in a hotel in Natanya in 2002 killing 20 Israelis is also nominee for being released in the deal.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 12:57 amSo he's been in jail for 30 years, but somehow he "ordered" the attacks against some Israelis in 2002 from inside his jail cell? At least if you're going to invent an excuse, come up with something slightly less laughable. And if we're going to apply that kind of logic, then most of the Israeli politicians and soldiers should be in jail for "ordering" attacks on Palestinians.
Posted by Kisimak Shubahli | May 2, 2009, 1:19 amIsn't it interesting how fast people gobble up and disseminate this kind of propaganda? Guinness Book of World Records would not confirm it measures such a world record or that Barghouti would top the category if it existed. Barghouti would have only been in prison a maximum of 7 consecutive years and calling him a "political prisoner" would also be an outright lie.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 2:31 amNael Barghouthi, who sent the Palestinians who blew themselves up in a hotel in Natanya in 2002 killing 20 Israelis… Either Barghouti was only been in prison a maximum of 7 consecutive years, or he ordered it from jail.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 2, 2009, 2:34 amHamas was created in 1987 ?
Posted by riskability | May 2, 2009, 4:22 pmKisimak Shubahli if anyone has "invented" anything its the Arab press.
Posted by Porky | May 2, 2009, 8:28 pmIts okay, its eagleblogger. Don't be surprised.
Posted by MohammadKF | May 2, 2009, 8:43 pmIn the United States, imprisoned gang members order hits on people they don't like while incarcerated. Are you implying that being in jail means prisoners have no contact with the outside world? Israeli prisoners, like prisoners in the United States, Britain, Australia, France, etc. have the right to visitors.
Posted by Ayala | May 2, 2009, 10:16 pmHamas was not created in 1978
Posted by Ali | May 4, 2009, 9:21 amYou may be surprised. See below….
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 4, 2009, 11:34 pmThese claims are propaganda… Being jailed for murder or conspiracy related charges does not make one a political prisoner. It makes one a criminal. Guinness Book of World Records would not confirm it measures such a world record or that Barghouti would top the category if it existed. ” target=”_blank”>http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/ So Nael Albarghouthi of Ramallah did not set any records, he did not become the longest serving political prisoner in the world – he is not even a political prisoner. Pure propaganda – gobbled up and spread around by those desperate to make Palestinian criminals into heroes.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 4, 2009, 11:43 pmThese claims are propaganda… Being jailed for murder or conspiracy related charges does not make one a political prisoner. It makes one a criminal. Guinness Book of World Records would not confirm it measures such a world record or that Barghouti would top the category if it existed. ” target=”_blank”>http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/ So Nael Albarghouthi of Ramallah did not set any records, he did not become the longest serving political prisoner in the world – he is not even a political prisoner. Pure propaganda – gobbled up and spread around by those desperate to make Palestinian criminals into heroes.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 4, 2009, 11:43 pmThese claims are propaganda… Being jailed for murder or conspiracy related charges does not make one a political prisoner. It makes one a criminal. Guinness Book of World Records would not confirm it measures such a world record or that Barghouti would top the category if it existed. ” target=”_blank”>http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/ So Nael Albarghouthi of Ramallah did not set any records, he did not become the longest serving political prisoner in the world – he is not even a political prisoner. Pure propaganda – gobbled up and spread around by those desperate to make Palestinian criminals into heroes.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 4, 2009, 11:43 pmWow, you are finding inconsistencies with the available information too? This is quite an interesting case, full of inaccuracies. and obviously just more of that good old Arab propaganda. As for Hamas: Beginning in the late 1960s, Hamas's founder and spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, preached and did charitable work in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both of which were occupied by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1973, Yassin established al-Mujamma' al-Islami (the Islamic Center) to coordinate the Muslim Brotherhood's political activities in Gaza. Yassin founded Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood's local political arm in December 1987, following the eruption of the first intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli control of the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas published its official charter in 1988, moving decidedly away from the Muslim Brotherhood's ethos of nonviolence.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 4, 2009, 11:47 pmYes, Ahmad Yassin was alive in 1978 and had a point of view = Hamas existed at the time. Hamas was founded in 1987. Nael Barghouthi was a member of Fatah when he was imprisoned 31 years ago. He may have changed his political leanings and become a supporter of Hamas sometime during his three decades in jail. What is your point?
Posted by MohammadKF | May 5, 2009, 6:36 amThe point is written below… Nael Albarghouthi of Ramallah did not set any records, he did not become the longest serving political prisoner in the world – he is not even a political prisoner. Pure propaganda – gobbled up and spread around by those desperate to make Palestinian criminals into heroes.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 5, 2009, 10:59 pmHe most certainly is a political prisoner, a man under occupation fighting his oppressors. As such, he is currently the longest serving political prisoner in the world.
Posted by MohammadKF | May 7, 2009, 9:00 amA political prisoner is someone held in prison or otherwise detained, perhaps under house arrest, for his or her involvement in political activity. There are political prisoners in places like Cuba, Tibet, Iran, ect. This man was arrested for violence. He was arrested for "fighting his oppressors." That is a criminal matter. And lots of criminals have been locked up for longer than him. The claims made about Guiness Book Of World Records in the article were false, too.
Posted by eagle007blogger | May 7, 2009, 8:15 pmIs Eagle seriously still talking? Seriously, stop embarrassing yourself.
Posted by Arayus | May 8, 2009, 5:52 pm