The Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu has been sentenced to another six months in prison for speaking to the international media. Vanunu was released in 2004 after spending 18 years in jail for disclosing information that proved Israel had a stockpile of nuclear weapons. Israel barred Vanunu from speaking to the foreign press, but he defied the order — speaking to several foreign outlets including Democracy Now! Earlier this year, an Israeli court convicted him of violating the terms of his release. On Monday, Vanunu attorney Avigdor Feldman denounced the new sentence.

Avigdor Feldman: “Vanunu was convicted for violating a rule that does not exist in any other democratic world that forbids speaking to foreigners, regardless of the contents of the conversation. The court convicted him, sentenced him to six months in prison. This sentence is not acceptable and not imaginable.”

In addition to his foreign media ban, Vanunu is also barred from leaving Israel. Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Vanunu urged Israel to let him leave.

Mordechai Vanunu: “My target is to be free, to leave this country, I don’t want to live here. I have 18 years in prison, now another three years. I want to leave and to start my life. I have the right to be free. I am a free man. I want to be free, and I want to leave. … I am not answering any questions now. Thank you.”