The trials of Soviet Jews and the unwarranted prison sentences imposed on them have justly been condemned by those who cherish individual liberty and freedom of conscience. As one who has fought against violations of human and civil rights in my own country. I have called on the Soviet Government. in cablegrams to Moscow. in letters to its representatives here. and in public statements. to guarantee the rights of Jews to emigrate from the Soviet Union without hindrance and to permit them complete cultural and religious freedom within the Soviet Union. The freedom of religion ostensibly guaranteed by the Soviet Constitution has been applied liberally to the Christian and Moslem denominations. such as provision of religious articles and church organizations and training of clergymen. but it has been severely curtailed for Jews. It is particularly shocking that the Soviet Union should be continuing its policy of prosecuting Jews wishing to emigrate to Israel or expressing concern with the survival and maintenance of Jewish culture and religion within the Soviet Union at the very same time that it is relaxing barriers to such emigration. If this relaxation is to have any lasting significance it should be accompanied by the extension of true civil liberties to all Soviet Jews. As the New York Times. noted in its July 1 news report on the Kishinev trials: The principal charge against the nine seemed to be their involvement in a group that coordinated information about Jewish life with other groups in Leningrad and Riga.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration