Letter from Larry Shapiro, Calgary to The Guardian Editor re: article by Emma Graham-Harrison, calling Marwan Barghouti, the jailed murdering terrorist, the 'Palestine Mandela,'

Re: Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti at risk in Israeli jails as he faces 'escalating abuse'. 'Palestine's Mandela' suffers three recent attacks including assault where prison guards set a dog on him, lawyer says, Emma Graham-Harrison, Wed 15 Apr 2026, Guardian.

April 15, 2026

Dear Editor,

It is interesting that the Guardian would recognize a man to be a "Palestinian leader" who is serving 5 life terms for committing multiple homicides. Other Palestinian murderers are also heroes to their people, the more Israeli bodies, the greater they are honored, and the more money they and their families receive each month from the Palestinian Authority. Comparing Marwan Barghouti to Nelson Mandela is a gross moral breech, dishonoring the great South African leader and his family.

The Israeli prison service has consistently denied these allegations. But there has never been a day that ends in the letter Y where the Guardian gave any credence to Israeli statements, no matter how much evidence is available.

These questionable accusations are all part of an effort to gather sympathy for Barghouti to get him released from jail, sympathy that has migrated to the UK and America where releasing Barghouti has become somewhat of a cause. Releasing a beaten prisoner would be a lot easier than releasing a prisoner who has never had a hand laid on him.

Larry Shapiro, Calgary, Alberta