In 1987. two brothers. Eli and Selim Swed. were arrested for traveling to Israel. For 2 years. they were held Incommunicado and later denied family visas. Last year. the Syrian Government sentenced Eli and Swed to 61/2 years in prison for illegally traveling to Israel. This gross violation of human rights. which is based solely on religious affiliation. should not be tolerated any longer. On many occasions. I have called on the Syrian Government to allow free emigration of Syrian Jews and to release prisoners such as Eli and Selim who are victims of this vile discrimination. As a member of the Ad I loc Coalition on Syrian Jewry. I implore Members of Congress to recognize the hardsh.ps Jews face in Syria. It is only fair that Syrian Jews are given the right to emigrate from Syria without restriction. Shabbat Zachor serves as an excellent reminder to us all of the many obstacles faced by Syrian Jews. On this day. we must pause and pray for Syrian Jews. and others like Eli and Selim Swed. who have encountered discrimination and hardship in the nation of Syria.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration visas