World’s longest-serving political prisoner released from jail

The world’s longest-serving political prisoner, Nael Barghouti, has been released from Jail in Israel after spending almost two thirds of his life in prison, the Middle East Eye reported on February 27th.

The 67-year-old was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel. Barghouti was in Israeli custody for 45 years, which included 34 years which were back-to-back. According to the 2009 Guinness World Records, this means he is the longest-serving political prisoner.

Known as “Abu al-Nour” among Palestinian prisoners, Barghouti is the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner held in Israeli jail.

He was released by Hamas during the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange and came back to live in his hometown of Kobar, located near Ramallah.

Middle East Eye