March 15. 1984. marked "International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews." On March 15. a saddened world also noted the eighth anniversary of the arrest of refusenik Anatoly Shcharansky. who remains incarcerated. Shcharanskys crime. for which he was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. was advocating human rights. including the right to religious belief. as accorded by the Helsinki agreement. Many Soviet Jews are seeking to emigrate to lands where they can practice their faith. However. never before in the history of Soviet Jewry have emigration figures been so low. In November 1983 the count for that year was only 1.218. in contrast. the total for 1979 was 51.320. The situation for Soviet Jews has become bleak. Unfortunately. along with the decreased emigration figures. there has been an increase in the number of arrests and in Government harassment of Soviet Jews who wish not only to emigrate. but merely to meet together and practice their religion. The Soviet Governments systematic abuse of its Jewish citizens has now become an integral part of daily life. Anatoly Shcharansky was only 29 when he was arrested and imprisoned under the asserted label of being a CIA agent.
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emigrate emigration