I call out for the release of the Gumnitzky family who have been denied for reasons of secrecy since 1979. Socalled State secrets continue to be used as the most common excuse for denying Soviet Jews internationally recognized human rights. The right to free emigration is included in the Helsinki agreements of which the Soviet Union is a signator. Although I am pleased that many more Jews are being released. true compliance with these agreements would mandate legalization or institutionalization of these reforms in Soviet law. However. they have notand many families like the Gumnitzkys are being denied their basic rights. Last month. a Soviet air force pilot defected in Turkey because "he feared President Mikhail Gorbachevs reforms would bring on civil war." Antisemitism is flourishing in the Soviet Union under glasnost and the need of these refugees to emigrate has become even more pronounced. In addition to Pamyat. other national antisemitic organization. have been established including the Committee of the Soviet Public Against Diplomatic Relations with Israel. Despite all this. the administration feels that Soviet Jews are no longer being denied their basic rights and no longer have a wellfounded fear of persecution.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration refugees