Speech #1020114567

I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 188. which condemns Syrias continuing denial of Syrian Jews basic human right to travel freely. The resolution strongly urges the Government of Svria to immediately grant Syrian Jews the right to travel freely without imposing any tax. levy. fine. or other fee. and to release all Jewish prisoners who were charged or suspected of travelling illegally. In addition. it urges our President to encourage our allies and trading partners to make similar pleas to the Syrian Government on behalf of Syrian Jews right to emigrate freely. and calls upon the United Nations to send an official delegation to Syria to investigate the present condition of Syrian Jews. Although the Jewish community in Syria continues to exercise a certain amount of authority over the personal status of its members. as a whole it is under considerable restriction. Human rights remained tightly restricted in virtually all categories. Syrian Jews are deprived of their Internationally recognized right to travel freely. The government of Syria continues its policy of not issuing passports and exit visas to all members of a Jewish family at the same time. Although theoretically any Syrian can be required to post a bond which would be forfeited in the event of nonreturn. In practice only Jews are routinely required to do so. These travel restrictions make it extremely difficult for members of the Jewish community to emigrate. Syrian Jews suspected of having visited Israel illegally are arrested and subjected to prosecution. Two Syrian Jews. the Swed brothers. were arrested in 1987 for travelling to Israel and still remain incarcerated. The State Department noted that the Syrian Government continues responding positively to specific requests from the United States Government about the status of Syrian Jews. Nonetheless. according to the State Departments human rights report. major human rights abuses--Including torture. arbitrary arrest and detention. and denial of freedoms of travel. speech. press. association. and the right of citizens to change their Governmentcontinue to characterize the regimes record in I urge my House colleagues to join with me In voting for passage of House Concurrent Resolution 188. The freedom of emigration for the Syrian Jews should be urgently secured.