Soviet Jews are routinely denied the freedom to enjoy the most fundamental human rights. They are denied the right to cultural expression. they are harassed. fired from their Jobs. and are subject to arbitrary arrest. imprisonment. and internal exileonly for trying to keep their religious and cultural heritage alive. And then. they are denied permission to emigrate from a country which treats them as outcasts. The number of Jews allowed to emigrate has precipitously declined over the last 6 years. Only 499 exit visas were granted to Soviet Jews in the first 6 months of this year. Thousands more wait years for a visa. only to be denied one for spurious reasons. In addition. untold numbers of Jews and other oppressed minorities fear to apply for emigration because of the severe consequences of filling out such an application. It has been 10 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act. Yet the past decade has seen not an improvement. but a worsening of the Soviet treatment of Jews and Christians.
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