President. today marks the eighth anniversary of Anatoly Shcharanskys confinement in Chistopol Prison. Shcharansky was convicted of antiSoviet activities. his only crime was trying to join his wife. Avital. in Israel. He. like so many other Soviet Jews who have been refused exist visas. is being persecuted for having the courage of his convictions. particularly his religious convictions. Religious persecution is impossible for us to fully understand. We in the United States have always had the right to practice the faith of our choice. the right to speak out freely on any and all issues. and the right to read whatever literature we desire.