Convicted Murderer of 5 Has Tourney Named after Him at Birzeit University

January 16, 2022

3 min read

  • Birzeit University basketball championship named after imprisoned terrorist Marwan Barghouti

  • Students played in team shirts with picture of terrorist

  • Trophies, medals, and honorary plaques bore pictures of terrorist

  • Birzeit University participates in the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program, and collaborates with many European countries. Would these partners endorse the participation of European students in a championship honoring a terrorist murderer?

Marwan Barghouti is an imprisoned Palestinian terrorist who orchestrated three shooting attacks in which 5 people were murdered during the PA’s 5-year terror campaign (2000-2005) – the second Intifada. After his imprisonment he was elected to the PA Parliament and Palestinian Media Watch has documented that he frequently comes out in Palestinian polls as the most popular choice for president of the PA, should elections be held.

Therefore it is not surprising that Birzeit University chose to honor him by naming a basketball championship after him. The championship was organized by the Sports Education Club at Birzeit University and reportedly “the goal of this initiative” was “to honor fighter Barghouti, one of the leaders of the student movement at Birzeit University.” [Al-Ayyam, Dec. 24, 2021]

At the championship, students played in shirts with the picture of Barghouti, received medals, trophies, and plaques with the terrorist’s photo on them, inscribed with texts calling for “leader” Barghouti’s release. The terrorist’s wife Fadwa Barghouti was present to congratulate the winners and hand out trophies. (see below)

Birzeit University lists among its “external relations” the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program, which Birzeit has participated in since 2015. The university also states that it collaborates with many European countries. Would they and the EU welcome and endorse the participation of European students in a championship honoring a terrorist murderer?

The following are pictures from the Birzeit University championship named after terrorist Barghouti, all posted by the university’s Sports Education Club Director Fahad Kan’an:

Players on the red team wearing their championship shirts. The shirts are decorated with terrorist Barghouti’s picture. On top of the shirt (right) is a medal, also with a picture of Barghouti.

Text on medal: “Leader Marwan Barghouti Basketball Championship for female students – Birzeit University”

The image on the blue team’s shirts shows a poster of former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, which has been altered to have him hold a poster featuring Barghouti’s picture.

Text on poster: “Freedom to commander fighter Marwan Barghouti and to all the Palestinian prisoners
You carried my picture in your hands… I preserved your message”

Terrorist Barghouti’s wife Fadwa Barghouti with the trophies, holding an honorary plaque (right) given to the players.

Text on plaque: “Thanks and appreciation
From: The popular campaign to release leader Marwan Barghouti and all the prisoners
To female student: Yasmin Atrash
As a sign of appreciation for your efforts for the success of the Leader Marwan Barghouti Basketball Championship for female students of the university
[December] 2021”

Trophies, medals, and shirts with terrorist Barghouti’s picture on them.

Marwan Barghouti – Palestinian terrorist and member of the Palestinian Authority parliament who is serving 5 life sentences for orchestrating three shooting attacks in which 5 people were murdered: one attack on the Jerusalem-Maale Adumim road (June 12, 2001) in which Greek Orthodox monk Tsibouktsakis Germanus was murdered by terrorists Ismail Radaida and Yasser Ah’Rabai, another attack at a gas station in Givat Zeev near Jerusalem (Jan. 15, 2002) in which Yoela Hen was murdered by terrorists led by Mohammed Matla, and one shooting and stabbing attack at the Seafood Market restaurant in Tel Aviv (March 5, 2002) in which Eli Dahan, Yosef Habi, and Police Officer Sergeant-Major Salim Barakat, were murdered by terrorist Ibrahim Hasouna. When arrested by Israel in 2002, Barghouti headed the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction). After he was convicted and imprisoned, he was re-elected as a member of the Palestinian Authority parliament. On Dec. 4, 2016, he was elected to Fatah’s Central Committee.

The following is the report on the championship in the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam:

Headline: “Birzeit University organizes a basketball championship named after leader prisoner Marwan Barghouti”
“The physical education department of Birzeit University organized its own basketball championship named after leader, fighter, and prisoner Marwan Barghouti (i.e., terrorist, orchestrated three attacks in which 5 were murdered) in the presence of his wife, lawyer Fadwa Barghouti.
The goal of this initiative is to honor fighter Barghouti, one of the leaders of the student movement at Birzeit University.”

[Al-Ayyam, Dec. 24, 2021]

Birzeit University has participated in the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program since 2015 and collaborates with many European countries:

Reprinted with author’s permission from Palestinian Media Watch

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