Mr. Speaker. the word "Refusenik" has become an international symbol of cultural and religious repression. It signifies the plight of a Soviet Jew who is continually denied permission to emigrate to Israel and is then ostracized. abused. demoted or fired at work. subject to arbitrary arrest. and often beaten or imprisoned. As the Soviet Union clamps down more and more every year on Jewish emigration. the ranks of the Refuseniks grow. It is an alarming situation. As a proud participant in this years congressional call to conscience vigil. I have "adopted" a Refusenik whose saddening case I have become familiar with.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration