Nor has glasnost eradicated antiSemitism and political persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union. In fact. it has opened the door for traditional Soviet antiSemitism to burst forth in such antiSemitic organizations as Pamyat. AntiSemitism is flourishing under glasnost. and the need of Soviet Jews refugees to emigrate has become even more pronounced. The suggestion that glasnost has brought fundamental improvements to the situation of Pentecostals and other Christian minorities in the Soviet Union is also erroneous. Pentecostal and other Evangelical Christians like Baptists have faced harsh persecution in the Soviet Union for generations because of their religious beliefs. and that persecution continues today. Pentecostals. part of the conservative evangelical wing of Protestantism. have sought to emigrate since 1963 because of unrelenting persecution and discrimination by Soviet authorities and a strong desire to live their lives in obedience to Biblical principles. The administrations own reports indicate conditions are still severe for Soviet Jews and Evangelical Christians. On June 19. 1989. President Bush increased the Soviet fiscal year 1989 refugee allotment to 43.500. In explaining the need for the increased Soviet numbers. the administration wrote. in its report to Congress concerning the Presidents proposal to raise the fiscal year 1989 refugee admissions ceiling. For Christians and Jews alike � many difficulties remain. There are shortages of priests. rabbis. reaching facilities. kosher butchers. ritual baths. vernacular religious literature. and many other elements needed for full spiritual or cultural expression...
Keywords matched
emigrate refugee refugees