Vanunu to be allowed live in Norway

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday April 15, 2008 01:22 by Justin Morahan

Minister concedes "If he gets a job, he will get a permit to stay and work"

Summary: Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli whistleblower will be given a visa to live in Norway, initial reports from Norway suggest at present. Vanunu spent eighteen years in an Israeli prison for revealing that Israel has nuclear weaapons. For the past four years (since his release), he has lived under the most severe restrictions to his freedom. He is not allowed to travel freely, not leave Israel even to the occupied West Bank or Gaza, nor speak to foreigners.

Norway's offer once again brings his name and fate to the attention of the conscience of the international community.

Norway is one of a number of countries, including Ireland, to which Mordechai Vanunu has applied for asylum. In 2004, it was reported that his application for asylum in Norway had been approved by the country's immigration agency, the UDI. However, he UDI approval was overruled by Norway's centre-right government at the time for political reasons.[ http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2357455.ece ]

The press release with the more recent news of Norway's acceptance of Vanunu comes from Fredrik S. Heffermeh, a long time Norwegian human rights activist and Vanunu supporter.