Although the Falasha experienced some persecution. arrests. and harassment under local governmental officials until relatively recently. Ethiopias Marxist government permits them to own land and to observe their religious beliefs. But there are problems living in Ethiopia for all minoritiesand the right to emigrate is forbidden under Ethiopian law. Those who attempt to flee the country are subject to arrest and imprisonment. But despite such laws. many Ethiopian Jews have fled to neighboring countries in hopes of finding a place where they might live freely and openly as Jews. Last year the Ethiopian Government allowed the gentleman from Michigan. HowARD WoLP-. the respected chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa. to lead a congressional delegation to visit the Falasha. In meetings with Ethiopian officials. the delegation urged that Ethiopian Jews be allowed to teach Hebrew and that those separated from their families be allowed to emigrate to reunite with their families. The delegation also visited some of the droughtstricken regions of Ethiopia. Upon their return they expressed grave concern that more needed to be done immediately to prevent further sufferings and deaths. lest this famine repeat the tragedy of 1973 when 200.000 Ethiopians perished from drought and famine.
Keywords matched
emigrate