The erection of a statue of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti on the roof of a Palestinian centre in Bloomsbury is being investigated by Camden Council. Barghouti is serving five life sentences plus 40 years in an Israeli prison for his alleged role in the murder of five people during the Second Intifada. His supporters continue to campaign for his release and regard him as a symbol of Palestinian resistance. The bronze, life-size figure is on a plinth on top of Palestine House, which is described as a “cultural embassy” for Palestinians.
Activists campaigning for Barghouti’s release took the statue to Parliament Square in June but police prevented them from placing it there. Palestine House, set up by Palestinian filmmaker and activist Osama Qashoo, describes itself as “a living home of culture, connection, and purpose” where “creativity meets advocacy” and “every conversation, event, or project carries the spirit of resilience and heritage that defines the Palestinian story”.
A planning application submitted by the centre for a roof development – seen by the JC – did not include anything about the statue. A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of this statue and officers are investigating this.” Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism, said: “Barghouti was convicted of being behind the murders of at least five civilians in Israel, including a Greek Orthodox monk. “These are not achievements to be commemorated with a statue.
“He is not a political prisoner. If this is the best symbol Palestine House can muster, then it reflects badly on their movement.” Speaking about the lack of planning permission, a spokesperson for UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) said: “Camden’s failure to enforce the law in relation to this building is a disgrace. It encourages lawlessness and undermines confidence of law-abiding citizens. “The fact that it involves highly divisive messaging, stirring up racial hatred and extolling a terrorist, only makes it worse.
“The occupier of this building is making a mockery of the council, which would have saved itself time and trouble if it had enforced the law rigorously in the first place.”
The Jewish Chronicle calls Marwan Barghouti a "convicted terrorist" in its own voice in the headline and opening line, though its own second sentence calls his role in the killings "alleged". It ends on UK Lawyers for Israel accusing Palestine House of "stirring up racial hatred" and prints no reply from the centre.
Labels people on one side's word
Serious
“convicted terrorist”
Why this matters
The headline calls Barghouti a "convicted terrorist" in the JC's own voice, with no attribution to the Israeli court or state that convicted him.
The impression it gives
A reader takes "terrorist" as a settled, neutral description of who Barghouti is, before reading anything about him.
The context
The JC's own body describes his role in the murders as "alleged". It also reports that his supporters see him as a symbol of Palestinian resistance, so the label is contested inside the article itself. The basis for it is an Israeli prison sentence.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“for his alleged role in the murder of five people”
Elsewhere in the article“regard him as a symbol of Palestinian resistance”
“stirring up racial hatred and extolling a terrorist”
Why this matters
The JC lets UK Lawyers for Israel accuse the centre of "stirring up racial hatred", which is a criminal charge. The quote and the one after it close the article with nothing set against them.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away believing the statue carries racist messaging and that the centre is promoting racial hatred.
The context
Nothing in the article describes any racial content in the statue or in Palestine House's messaging. The centre's only words in the article are its self-description as a place of culture and heritage. The JC prints no response from Palestine House, its founder or the campaigners to this accusation.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“a living home of culture, connection, and purpose”