We talked to Marwan Barghouti's son about his father's fight for freedom

He is a man hailed by millions as Palestine's Nelson Mandela, a man whose voice remains strong, clear and heard even from behind the bars of an Israeli prison.

He is Marwan Barghouti, a 57-year-old Palestinian leader and politician who chooses to face imprisonment with resilience and belief in his fight for freedom and justice. 

Serving one of several life sentences, his supporters, family and an international community of human rights lawyers continue to hope for his release, seeing in him a chance of a stronger fight for freedom in Palestine.

Speaking to Stepfeed, Barghouti's son, Aarab, tells us more about his father's imprisonment, his fight for justice, and what it's like being raised by Palestine's Nelson Mandela. 

For years, people in Palestine and across the world have dubbed Marwan Barghouti "Palestine's Mandela," in reference to the famous South African leader who spent years in prison only to later become the president of his country. 

When asked about the similarities between his father and the late South African leader, Aarab says the two have a lot in common. 

Similar to Mandela, Barghouti is known for fighting against occupation and oppression, spending years in jail on charges related to his struggle for justice. The two were also labeled terrorists for refusing to be silenced by their oppressors.  

But those aren't the only common points the Palestinian leader shares with Mandela; Barghouti, like the late South African leader, is known to have the ability to inspire people and connect with them.

The young student also goes on to reveal that Mandela himself was a huge supporter of his father. 

"Mandela met with my mother and expressed his solidarity with my father, telling her that he values his leadership and resilience and supports his release."

When asked to respond to those who label his father's fight against oppression as "terrorism," Aarab is quick to explain that to Israel, every Palestinian who is an advocate for freedom is considered a terrorist. 

"My father is a scholar and politician, he has nothing to do with violence, and the allegations made against him in that regard are completely false," he says. 

"At the end of the day, before you accept these outrageous allegations made against every Palestinian freedom fighter, you've also got to question those who promote them," he adds. 

To Aarab, the promoter of these false allegations is an oppressive state with a legal system that considers every single person fighting for justice, dignity and freedom, a terrorist. 

"When they attach that label to my father, it means nothing, especially given the fact that an international community of legal experts has spoken of the unfair trial my father was given. I choose to believe their story and not the Israeli version of it," he explains. 

"In fact, Israeli courts claim that all 800,000 Palestinian prisoners it has arrested since 1967 are 'terrorists,' the equivalent of 40 percent of our male population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Those are people who are simply defending their most basic human rights," he says, before going on to add that the illegality of his father's arrest and trial is the reason why he completely refuses to acknowledge or deal with the Israeli court. 

To many around the world, Barghouti is a true advocate of peace and is someone who is essential to the ongoing peace negotiations. 

In recent years the European Parliament called for his release, and Belgian officials even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. 

Marwan Barghouti is somewhat of a legend to his people.  They see in him change and hope in the future, they also see in him a man whose adamant on fighting for Palestine no matter the price. 

To his son, Barghouti is a role model, a man who has been fighting injustice since his early teens and who has used every platform available to him. 

"My father is one of the founders of the youth movement Fateh Al Shabeeba and is also a two-time elected member of the Palestinian parliament. He has been struggling against occupation and oppression for more than 4 decades. He is a man who has spent most of his life in prison, more than 21 years to be exact. He is a man who was exiled from Palestine for 7 years. He is someone who has sacrificed [tremendously] but who's willing to sacrifice so much more for his country."

Today, many in the country, both people and politicians see in Barghouti a possible future presidential candidate. They include prominent activist and politician Hanan Ashrawi. 

In an interview with Stepfeed, Ashrawi spoke of Barghouti as a promising candidate. "He has all it takes, from credibility to grassroots support and leadership qualities," she said. 

In an op-ed published in The New York Times titled, Why we are on a hunger strike in Israeli prisons, Barghouti listed the reasons behind the hunger strike he launched in April 2017. 

"Freedom and dignity are universal rights that are inherent in humanity, to be enjoyed by every nation and all human beings. Palestinians will not be an exception. Only ending occupation will end this injustice and mark the birth of peace," he wrote. 

The strike lasted for 40 consecutive days, ending on the 27th of May and to Aarab, it wasn't only a wake-up call to Palestinians but to humanity and the world. 

"It revealed to the world the type of monstrous authority we deal with on a daily basis. One that refused to negotiate with 1,600 people who were literally starving themselves to death, to demand even the most basic of their human rights. They were not even demanding privileges or any sort of special treatment, but just simple, basic, human rights." 

Aarab explains that throughout the strike all prisoners were in critical condition, and were refused proper medical care, visitation and denied the right to see or speak to their lawyers. 

While Israel denies that any agreement was reached following the strike, a prisoners' spokesperson said it succeeded in achieving "a fundamental transformation in the terms of the prisoners’ living conditions." 

While that is an important step forward, Aarab also focuses on rights that must be guaranteed to the families of prisoners, saying that for years occupying authorities have made sure that the families of prisoners suffer along with them. 

"Take me as an example, I haven’t seen my father in two years, I am just not given permission to go see him, except once every two years. My oldest brother Bassam hasn’t seen my father except for two times in the past 10 years. My father was even denied the right to see my niece when she was 8 months old because she didn’t have written permission to enter. Guards told her mother to 'get rid of the baby,' or else she would not be allowed in the visit room." 

Aarab explains that his niece is now 4 years old and has never met her grandfather, but also stresses on the fact that his family represents the plight of thousands of families who face worse conditions.  

"The other day I met a mother who has not seen her imprisoned son in the last 4 years, a father who hasn’t seen his son except for 6 times in sixteen years, and there are many similar stories," he added, before going on to explain that these stories of suffering are also a reason why the strike took place. 

While Aarab speaks of the important role his father has played in his upbringing, he doesn't fail to mention his mother, Fadwa Barghouti, and her efforts. 

"Being raised by someone like Marwan Barghouti is special and certainly unique, but I must also add that it was an incredible privilege to be raised by both him and my mother Fadwa Bargouti. She is an inspiration to everyone who knows her, a person who [has] played the role of both mother and father, all while continuing her education and going on to become a lawyer who fights for civil rights and women’s rights," he says. 

Aarab credits his mother with being a pillar that keeps the family going in the most difficult of times. 

"She deserves all the credit for the recognition that my father has gained over the years."

"I was [brought up] by a peaceful, kind man, who focused on raising us with principles. He is obsessed with education and holds a Ph.D. in political science and he’s the person who encouraged me to travel to the U.S. to complete my Master's degree," he said. 

Towards the end of our interview, Aarab recounts an emotional conversation he had with his father before leaving for the U.S. during which the Palestinian leader told him: 

“You have been living under my shadow for years and everyone expects you to be perfect. But, what I ask of you is to forget all about that for the coming years of your life and just go explore the world. Make mistakes, be the person you want to be and always remember that politics is not the only way to resist occupation, education is also resistance." 

Aarab also tells us that while his father did encourage him to carry Palestine’s message and cause wherever he goes, he also made sure that his son understood that he is in no way obliged to walk in his footsteps. 

When asked what message he would want to share with his father today, Aarab says:

 "I just completed my Master's degree in his honor. My other siblings also completed their Master's degrees with his encouragement. Even though it hurts me that, like with my other graduations, he won’t be able to attend, I know and he knows, that he's deep inside my heart and I cannot wait until he is free again."