« I visited 50 countries and 15 French cities consider Barghouti honour citizen,†says Palestinian imprisoned leader’s wife
Fadwa Barghouti at Echorouk's headoffice
- Struggle of Fadwa Barghouti wife of the Palestinian imprisoned leader Marwan Barghouti led to several recognitions in Europe. She could reach an incomparable European parliamentary solidarity. “The first invitation I received was from the European Parliament to visit Strasbourg. I went out from Ramallah on that day thinking about the way I should use to transmit the sufferance in my address,” she told Echorouk in an interview.
- “Thanks to Allah, there have been more visits since that day and they started attending Marwan Barghouti’s trial. On his trial day, an aircraft carrying several European parliamentarians landed. I have visited 50 countries and 15 European cities awarded honour citizenship to my husband.”
- “Festivals and celebrations were organised on his honour in various French cities which displayed his picture and showed solidarity to the prisoners’ issue.”
- “I met many presidents, ministers and officials who supported the issue with their best efforts.”
- Fadwa Barghouti wondered about Arab capitals which did not think about adopiting a step through their parliaments. She wished that Marwan Barghouti was awarded an honour citizenship in Algeria and in Arab countries.
- “When I said good bye to him the last time on my way to Algeria, he asked me to convey a love and peace message to the revolutionaries’ country.”
- “They handcuffed him and prevented his children from visiting him. Whatever they do, they will not be able to take out from him the strong belief that the land will return to its owners.”
- What did your husband Marwan Barghouti tell you in your last meeting with him?
- He was very happy when I told him I would attend a conference in Algeria about Palestinian prisoners. He asked me to convey a message of love and peace to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and all the Algerian people. He told me everyone eyes Al Qods and we are afraid that one day we wake up and we do not find it. Whatever I tell you, I can not describe how he was happy for my trip to Algeria.
- How does Barghouti feel about Algeria?
- Algeria is the country of revolution and revolutionaries for all the Palestinian people. We were raised listening to the Algerian struggle anthems. Marwan talked to us from time to time about Algeria’s revolution and symbols.
- How does Marwan spend his prison years in an Israeli cell? What are the things he can not reveal only to you as a wife and a militant?
- Although he has been in prison for years and he was transferred from an individual cell to a collective one, his will power was not broken. He always practices sports 90 minutes per day as he did that, nine years ago. He always asks me to bring the last released books to him. He likes reading and always checks news. Prison will never break him.
- What does he read?
- He reads everything which has something to do with the Palestine cause. He spends 12 hours reading everyday. I have forgotten to say that Marwan practices sports even in snow days.
- Who visits him in prison? Did the occupation forces prevent his children from visiting him?
- Our children used to visit him before they had been 20. After that, the occupation forces prevented them from doing that. I am allowed to visit him twice a month. My children have visited him for three times only. I was prevented from visiting him even in my capacity as a lawyer or even as a wife.
- Do his children call him? Who are the Palestinian politicians who visit him?
- Everything is prohibited including calls and contacts. My children have not seen their father for four years. Some friends visit him. Usually, I am the mediator between politicians and him.
- For example, who?
- For example, there is Abu Mazen about some positions. I would like to say that Barghouti has one single position. It is unity. As far s I am concerned, I do not know why we are divided not because programs neither documents. We do not agree with each other about power and ruling. In reality, there is no power neither ruling.
- What will you convey to him when you return to Palestine?
- Love and peace from this lovely country. What I felt in Algeria reminded me of the positions of Algerian brothers we had met in Europe.
- Echorouk published an interview with Barghouti. Did he read it and what was his impression?
- He asked me about the interview. He was very interested in publishing an interview with him in an Algerian newspaper. We could print the interview on the Internet and we entered a copy of it to his cell.
- How did you find the Algerians’ position when you attended the conference about prisoners?
- I did not expect that Barghouti would have a such popularity in Algeria. I will convey all what I witnessed in Algeria.
- What is your last say?
- We will not forget Algeria’s positions. Every Palestinian yearns to visit the first country to recognize the Palestinian State.