|
| Fatah chief Barghuti sentenced to five life terms |
| | www.chinaview.cn 2004-06-06 20:36:45 |
JERUSALEM, June
6 (Xinhuanet) -- Marwan Barghuti, Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement's
leader, was sentenced to five life terms plus 40 years for murder by an Israeli
court in Tel Aviv on Sunday.
The Israeli court co nvicted
Barghouti last month for the direct responsibility for four suicide bombings
carried out by Fatah's armed wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
Barghouti, who is also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),
has been detained inside Israeli jails since March 2002 after an Israeli
large-scale military incursion into the West Bank.
He has
been put to trials since September 2002 and was indicted for "affiliation in a
terrorist organization and involvement in terrorist activities".
But Barghouti refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the
trial, saying "it represents the Israeli illegal occupation of the Palestinian
territories".
PLC Speaker Rawhi Fatooh on Sunday called on
the International Parliament's Union to suspend the membership of the Israeli
Knesset for giving the Israeli court legitimacy to put on trial a Palestinian
representative.
He said at a press conference held in Gaza
City that he rejects any ruling by the Israeli military court against
Barghouti.
Fatooh described Barghouti as a prominent Fatah
representative and a PLC member who enjoys parliamentary
immunity.
He said the PLC had designated an attorney to
defend Barghouti, adding that the PLC will hold a session to tackle Barghuti's
case on Wednesday.
Fadwa Barghouti, Barghuti's wife, said
Sunday that Israel deprived her of the right to attend the court's session in
Tel Aviv.
She said the sentence against her husband
coincided with Barghuti's 45th birthday.
Fadwa told
reporters that a symbolic birthday party for her husband would be held in
Jerusalem on Sunday evening, joined by foreign peace activists, diplomats and
Palestinians.
She said there would be peaceful activities in
different parts of the Palestinian territories that will continue until 11 p.m.
before midnight.
"Celebrating Marwan's birthday is a sign
for life and is to send a message to the world that detaining him in Israeli
prisons would never last for too long," said Fadwa.
Enditem
|
|
|
Breaking
News