Speaker. I am honored to join with my colleagues and with communities and organizations throughout the world today in observance of this International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews. Today we pay tribute to the courage and spirit of Soviet Jews. who continue in the face of brutal Government opposition to practice their religion. uphold their traditions. and demand their fundamental human right to emigrate. During the last year. Soviet authorities have stepped up their attack on Jews and Jewish culture on three fronts: In the drastic reduction of emigration and further complication of emigration procedures. in increasingly severe restrictions on Jewish cultural practices and education. including the teaching of Hebrew. and in a vicious and ominous campaign of antiSemitism in the public press. In 1983. only about 1.300 Jews were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. the lowest level since the late sixties. Emigration procedures were further complicated by a new law proclaiming visa applications invalid after 6 months. long before Soviet authorities are likely to get around to processing them. In addition. the likelihood of arrest and imprisonment for refuseniks has been increased by the tightening of statutes against parasitism. While the door to freedom is effectively being shut in their faces.
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emigrate emigration visa Emigration