Israeli Christian peace campaigner Mordechai Vanunu marries

Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli Christian peace campaigner who spent 18 years in prison, mostly in solitary confinement, for revealing the fact that Israel had a nuclear weapons program, married Norwegian theologian Kristin Joachimsen last Tuesday. The wedding took place in the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. Kristen Joachimsen is professor at the School of Theology in Oslo.

But tough restrictions imposed by Israel on Vanunu, even though he completed his prison sentence 11 years ago, mean that he is not allowed to leave Israel to visit his wife.

"The restrictions have just been renewed for another year," she told Norway's ABCNyheter after the service.

Vanunu worked for about nine years as a nuclear technician in Israel. After he left the job and converted to Christianity, in 1986, he leaked details of programme to the Sunday Times. He paid a high price for telling the truth. Mossad agents tracked him down, they drugged and kidnapped him, taking him to Israel where he spent 18 years in prison, more than eleven of which were in solitary confinement.

He was released from prison in 2004, although he served further spells of three and six months in 2010 and 2007, for violating the terms of his parole. Among other restrictions he is forbidden to speak to foreigners.

Liv Signe, foreign policy spokesman for Norway's Centre Party said she is considering lobbying foreign minister Børge Brende to pressure Israel to grant Vanunu an exit visa. She said she thinks Vanunu should come to Norway and the country should give him residence there.