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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE 110/94 ______

TO: PRESS OFFICERS AI INDEX: NWS 11/110/94 FROM: IS PRESS OFFICE DISTR: SC/PO DATE: 25 MAY 1994 NO OF WORDS:467

NEWS SERVICE ITEMS: EXTERNAL - ISRAEL

NEWS INITIATIVES - INTERNAL

INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASES

China - 1 June - SEE NEWS SERVICE 81/94

Turkey - 30 June - SEE NEWS SERVICE 104/94

Pakistan - 27 July - PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE. SEE NEWS SERVICE 81/94

TARGETED AND LIMITED NEWS RELEASES

Guatemala - 25 May - SEE NEWS SERVICE 99/94

MOROCCO - 30 MAY - SEE NEWS SERVICE 105/94

Austria - 7 June - SEE NEWS SERVICE 105/94

Denmark - 15 June - SEE NEWS SERVICE 105/94

Myanmar - 20 July - SEE NEWS SERVICE 99/94

FORTHCOMING NEWS INITIATIVES

Annual Report - 7 July - SEE NEWS SERVICE 51/94

News Service 110/94

AI INDEX: MDE 15/WU 10/94 EMBARGOED FOR THURSDAY 26 MAY 1994

ISRAEL: CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF MORDECHAI VANUNU AS REDRESS FOR VIOLATIONS OF HIS HUMAN RIGHTS

Amnesty International is calling for the release of a former nuclear technician who has been held in solitary confinement by the Israeli authorities since they abducted and tried him secretly eight years ago.

Mordechai Vanunu is serving an 18-year sentence in prison, after having been convicted of treason and aggravated espionage, for providing a British newspaper with classified information on Israel's nuclear program in 1986. He maintains that he disclosed such information for reasons of in order to promote a public debate on Israel's nuclear program, a subject of strict secrecy in Israel. Vanunu was abducted by Israeli Government agents, apparently in Italy on 30 September 1986, and covertly taken to Israel, where he was held in secret detention. His trial -- including his appeal -- was held entirely in camera.

Amnesty International is concerned that, in order to punish Mordechai Vanunu and deter others from making similar disclosures, the Israeli authorities have shown a determination to go far beyond what is legitimate under international human rights law.

"The Israeli authorities clearly acted illegally in abducting Mordechai Vanunu and holding him in prolonged solitary confinement, a condition that we have long considered to constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment", Amnesty International said. "The real reason for his continued isolation appears to be to prevent Mordechai Vanunu from talking about his abduction and that makes it all the more unacceptable".

Mordechai Vanunu is held in a single prison cell with no contact whatsoever with other inmates. He exercises in isolation and his access to the outside world is limited to visits by his family once every two weeks and occasional visits by his lawyer or a clergyman.

Amnesty International has written to the Israeli authorities appealing for the release of Mordechai Vanunu following a decision by the organization's Standing Committee on the Mandate (SCM), which recently reviewed his case. The SCM concluded that Mordechai Vanunu, although not a prisoner of conscience under current Amnesty International policy on disclosure of confidential information, should be released as redress for the human rights violations to which he has been and continues to be subjected.

ENDS/