LONDON, June 5, 2014 – (WAFA) - The Israeli government’s refusal to allow whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu, who leaked details of the country’s nuclear arsenal to the international media in 1986, to leave the country for even three days to attend events in the UK next week is entirely unjustified, said Amnesty International in a press release issued Thursday.
Last month, Israel’s Interior Minister rejected an application by the former
nuclear technician to travel to the UK in June. His lawyers have petitioned the
Supreme Court to overturn this decision, as well as to revoke a host of other
restrictions against him including an ongoing complete travel ban. The Court is
expected to rule on his request to travel to the UK next week, said the
release.
Vanunu is due to attend an event organized by Amnesty International
on 17 June to promote the protection of whistleblowers including
Edward Snowdon and Chelsea Manning. He has also been invited to address the
British parliament on 18 June.
“The continued punishment of Vanunu for blowing the whistle on Israel’s nuclear
arsenal 18 years ago is vindictive and utterly groundless,” said Philip Luther
Director for the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty
International.
“It is simply absurd that the government is refusing to lift the travel ban
against him for a mere three days so that he is able to attend whistleblower
events in London. The Supreme Court must seize this opportunity to permit
Vanunu to travel to the UK.”
A decade after his release from prison Vanunu is barred from leaving Israel. He is also banned from entering foreign embassies or taking part in internet chats and speaking to foreign journalists without prior permission.
“The continuing restrictions against Vanunu are arbitrary and totally
unjustifiable; he is like a caged bird who has been set free but has had his
wings clipped. He offers no threat whatsoever to the security of Israel - any
knowledge he once had about Israel’s nuclear arsenal is completely irrelevant
today,” said Luther.
Vanunu served an 18-year prison sentence for revealing information about
Israel’s nuclear arsenal to The SundayTimes in 1986. He
spent the first 11 years of his prison term in solitary confinement. The
Israeli authorities say he still poses a threat to national security.
K.F./T.R.
