Nearly a decade ago. the Soviet Union joined the United States and many other nations in signing the Helsinki agreement. The right of every individual to practice and express his religious faith is its most fundamental guarantee. The right of free emigration is also preserved. Yet by its treatment of the Jews. the Soviet Union violates the Helsinki accords and ignores the most basic of human rights. In response to heartfelt expressions of faith. the Soviet leadership has torn a page from the darkest and most repressive chapters of Soviet history. As a result. the plight of the Soviet Jews has rarely been worse. Over the past few years. the Soviets have slamme J the door on the many Jews who wish to emigrate. The Jewish exodus from the Soviet Union had increased steadily during the 1970s. and more than 50.000 Jews were permitted to leave that nation in 1979. Since then. the Soviets have severely constricted the flow of emigrants. In 1984. fewer than 1.000 Soviet Jews were allowed to leave. In effect. the Soviets have imprisoned their Jewish population.
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emigrate emigration emigrants