Speech #980166549

Mr. Speaker. today may only be the Ides of March to us. but to Anatoly Shcharansky. today is the seventh anniversary of his arrest on charges of "treason" and "antiSoviet agitation and propaganda." Accused of spying for the United States. his only crime was applying for an emigration visa to Israel. He is now serving a 13year sentence in Christopol Prison. His case has received international attention. and his name is synonymous with the basic denial of human rights. Today. we rise to pay special tribute to all the hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews. such as Anatoly Shcharansky. seeking to emigrate to Israel and fulfill their dream to maintain their Jewish identity. This March 15. 1984. takes on a special meaning: Let "1984." the title of George Orwells fictitious totalitarian society. serve as a bitter reminder of the persecution. exile. surveillance. and imprisonment which is known as the Soviet way of life. In March 1983. at the Third International conference on Soviet Jewry. concerned citizens of over 30 countries declared: "We stand in awe of the tremendous courage and tenacity of these modern heroes in Jewish history. and we declare that we will continue our struggle ceaselesslyfor the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate and to maintain their national identity and religious heritage." The time has come to improve the plight of Soviet Jewery by working on such causes as the release of Soviet dissidents from prison. allowing Soviet refuseniks to emigrate. and the halt of statesponsored antiSemetic publications and harassment. The Soviet Government has continually denied that there is a Jewish problem. Soviet officials also claim that all Jews wishing to leave have done so. and therefore. family reunification provisions of the Helsinki Final Act are no longer necessary. Yet over 50.000 Jewish refuseniks have applied to emigrate and have been denied permission and are among the thousands waiting in a country that denies them citizenship. a place of residence. occupation. and their dignity. Emigration levels may have hit rock bottom. but these statistics represent human livespeople whose families have been divided. income sources dried up. and privileges denied because of wanting a Jewish identity. Fundamental human rights are being negated. We must not give up this cause.