"I said the kidnapping is a crime. I have the right to speak about the crime done against me. They didn't like me to speak about this crime. So I decided to reveal it to the public"

Mordechai Vanunu’s words reflect the profound tension that arises when an individual confronts powerful institutions to expose what they perceive as wrongdoing. By stating plainly that “kidnapping is a crime,” Vanunu asserts an undeniable and universal moral standard, emphasizing that regardless of the actors involved, certain actions carry an inherent ethical weight. He positions himself not as a political agitator, but as a victim of a crime with intrinsic human rights. This appeal to a universal sense of justice strengthens his claim to the right to speak freely about his experiences.

Vanunu’s expression of his right to narrate the wrongs committed against him reveals a personal conviction rooted in the principles of free speech and transparency. He underscores his autonomy, claiming agency over his own story despite the efforts of others to suppress it. The phrase “they didn’t like me to speak about this crime” suggests that powerful entities or authorities desired to bury the narrative, either to protect their interests or avoid scrutiny. This institutional silencing is depicted as deliberate and oppressive, hinting at a broader trend of states or organizations attempting to stifle dissent or inconvenient truths using threats, censorship, or social pressure.

His decision to “reveal it to the public” marks the critical juncture where personal suffering transforms into public action. Vanunu frames the act of disclosure as both an act of resistance and a moral responsibility. The public nature of his revelation serves two purposes: to seek justice for himself, and to draw broader attention to abuses of power. In making his experience public, he invites collective judgment and potentially, collective redress. Vanunu’s statement thus becomes an appeal to conscience, drawing a line between silent suffering and active engagement in the pursuit of truth, transparency, and justice, regardless of the risks or the opposition faced.