Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, who spent 18 years in prison after revealing classified information about Israel’s nuclear program to the British newspaper Sunday Times in 1986, has married his longtime significant other, the Norwegian Kristin Joachimsen, a professor of Theology from Oslo.
The two have married at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem Tuesday (26May15) according to a Norwegian news site. Vanunu, a former employee of the Nuclear Research Center in Dimona, converted to Christianity shortly before his arrest.
Vanunu’s strict and unique terms of release from prison forbid him from leaving Israel or speaking to foreigners.
Vanunu was arrested in 2009 for the romance, which violated his terms of release. He had also spent six months in jail during 2007 for the same charges. However, the Israeli government had since apparently decided not to pursue Vanunu further for his relationship with Joachimsen.
According to Joachimsen, who spoke to a Norwegian TV channel, the restrictions have been recently renewed for another year.
The restrictions, upheld by Israel’s Supreme Court, have been condemned by international human rights groups.
In 2005, Oslo rejected an appeal by Vanunu, who had requested political asylum.
However, Norwegian politician Liv Signe, said she is considering lobbying for Oslo to pressure Israel to grant Vanunu an exit visa – and to grant him a residential permit.
Vanunu denies he poses a security risk but says he will pursue anti-nuclear activities and wants to live abroad.
Vanunu served an 18-year sentence after revealing to a journalist details regarding his work as a technician at Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor, an interview that led experts to conclude the facility had produced fissile material for as many as 200 atomic warheads.
This man is a hero. He withstood 18 years in prison, 11 in solitary confinement. Free Mordechai, you rats! You got your pound of flesh.