Speech #910323122

Now. some 70 years. two world wars and one revolution after the persecution of the "fixer." the Soviet Union is engaged in another "show trial" and again demonstrating a consummate disrespect for the dignity of Jews living in their country. It is impossible to respect any nation which so blatantly. so consciously. denies the basic human rights of its citizens. The nine men are accused of attempting to hijack a Russian aircraft. yet there is no evidence to suggest that they committed a crime greater than requesting of visas for emigration to Israel. They have been arrested. their property confiscated. their families left without support. for a hijacking that probably never occurred. And. If they are convicted. they face the death penalty. It is sad indeed that a simple request to leave Russia. in many cases to rejoin relatives in other countries. should be denied and. in fact. be treated as a criminal act. The right to emigrate is a key principle of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. It is a basic fact of international law. It is even the stated policy of Soviet Premier Kosygin. Four years ago he said: As regards the reunion of families. should anyone want to be reunited with their families. or want to leave the Soviet Union. the road is open and no problem exists there. Why then. we must ask. have so many valid requests by Soviet Jews to emigrate to their families in the United States been summarily rejected? Why is it next to impossible for a Russian Jew to emigrate to Israel? Why are these nine men being prosecuted for merely asking to leave the Soviet Union? The simple fact is that. in spite of Premier Kosygins stated position. Russian Jews have rarely been allowed to emigrate and that they have been consistent targets of discrimination in most areas of Soviet life. The new trial is an indication that antiSemitism is not receding. but that it will increase in the years to come. Of course. the United States would only be inviting reprisals against the nine men by interfering with the internal machinery of the Soviet Government.