Support visit for Mordechai Vanunu

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Tuesday April 18, 2006 00:44 by Peace People

Peace People to visit Vanunu on anniversary of Release

Summary:The whistle-blower on Isreal's nuclear arsenal, Mordechai Vanunu, approaches the second anniversary of his release still a virtual prisoner within the State of Israel
Three of the Peace People who were with him on the day of his release and again last year on 21 April are flying to Israel again this year to show their solidarity and support.

Three members of Peace People, Nobel Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Ann Patterson of Belfast and Justin Morahan of Dublin are to visit the nuclear whistle-blower, Mordechai Vanunu, again this year in Jerusalem on the second anniversary of his release from Ashkelon prison. The three Peace People were in Israel to greet Vanunu on his release in April 2004 and returned last year with other members of an international delegation.

In an act of solidarity and support, the three fly out of Belfast on Tuesday night 18 April to arrive in Jerusalem on 19 April, two days ahead of the anniversary of Vanunu's release.

Vanunu who told the world of Israel's then hidden nuclear arsenal had been kidnapped by Israeli agents in Rome, smuggled to Israel illegally while drugged and shackled and tried in secret there. He served eighteen years in prison, eleven and a half of them in solitary confinement. After release, two years ago, the Israeli authorities forbade him to speak to foreigners, to give interviews to foreign media, to approach the borders of Israel or any foreign Embassy, they also put restrictions on his travel and accommodation inside Israel and forbade him to leave the country.

On each anniversary of his release they renew these restrictions - all of which Vanunu has rejected.

Relentlessly, the Israeli authorities pursue Vanunu and at present there are 21 charges against him for having broken the restrictions, pending

The Peace People believe that the restrictions are unjust and unconscionable, that they are contrary to justice and human rights being in direct violation of articles 13 and 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and they are calling on Israel to release Mordechai Vanunu from all of these restrictions forthwith, to give him his passport and declare him a truly free man.