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Friday, FetiruarY 20:19iii 39
State Department's Report on World Human Rights
Discusses Jewish Life in Argentina and Soviet Union
and Vladimir Slepak re-
main in exile" and the "de-
WASHINGTON (JTA) —
tention" of Moscow monitor-
In its report to Congress on
ing group member Anatoly
human rights in 1980 in 153
Shcharansky who is in a
countries, the State De-
Siberian prison camp.
partment pointed to "viru-
Under the heading of "ar-
lent anti-Semitic litera-
bitrary arrest and impris-
ture" in Argentina and the
onment," the report re-
imprisonment of Jews in the
ferred to Yuri Fedorov,
Soviet Union "for teaching
Oleski Mrzehnko and Yosif
Hebrew."
Mendelevich, and the re-
"The human rights situa-
maining imprisoned mem-
n in Argentina improved
1980 although serious - bers of the group convicted
in Leningrad in 1970 for
problems remained," the
department said. The most trying to seize an empty
airliner on the ground and
serious, it said, was "the
fly out of the USSR.
continued application by
Noting Soviet law "pro-
the security forces of the
practices of disappearance, hibits religious believers"
from providing religious
although at a level much
training to children, the re-
lower than occurred in the
first two years of the present port said: "There have been
military regime." Violence continuing reports of anti-
began in 1969 and Semitism as reflected in
discrimination against
"mounted steadily from the
left and then from the Jews in access to higher
education and the profes-
right,"
Noting that the majority sions. Officially condoned,
of Argentinians are published attacks on
Catholic and the govern- Zionism, which appear only
ment "publicly condemns thinly to veil anti-Semitic
religious prejudice," the re- feelings, also have aroused
concern. Jews have been
port made public by Con-
subjected to imprisonment
gress mentioned that the
for teaching Hebrew."
Jewish community num-
The report noted "ap-
bers between 300,000 and
plication procedures for
450,000 and added:
"Argentine Jews have emigration are cumber-
well-developed commu- some and expensive" al-
nity organizations, exer- though the cost of an
cise their religion with- emigration passport to a
out restraints and par- "capitalist country" has
ticipate fully in Argen- been cut from 400 Rubles
tine economic and cul- to 200 (about $310), those
tural life. The govern- going to Israel pay 500
ment maintains correct Rubles ($775) down from
relations with the Jewish SOO Rubles in 1976.
"A delay is often used
community and there is
no evidence of official against potential emi-
anti-Semitic policy, al- grants," the report said.
though incidents of "Many Soviet Jews have
waited unsuccessfully more
anti-Semitism occur.
"During the height of the than eight years for permis-
`dirty war' there were credi- sion to leave" and "because
ble reports of anti-Semitic in most cases those who
behavior by the security apply to emigrate lose their
forces and persecution of jobs, they are exposed to the
Jewish prisoners. Virulent danger of being prosecuted
anti-Semitic literature re- as `parasites'."
Noting 21,000 Jews were
mains on sale in the country
and openly anti-Semitic allowed to emigrate in 1980
attitudes have been compared with 51,000, a re-
tolerated in state-controlled cord in 1979, the report said:
"According to Jewish
television.
"Several Jewish schools sources in the Soviet Union,
were bombed in July and the drop may be explained
August and more received by the deterioration in
anonymous threats. East-West relations and
Though the culprits were Soviet fears of a Jewish
never found the govern- Soviets Make
ment sought to reassure
Good Ohm
Argentine Jews."
The report also men-
JERUSALEM (JNI) —
tioned that the Inter- Veteran immigrants from
American Human Rights the Soviet Union enjoy a
Commission that visited higher standard of living in
-entina in 1979 noted Israel than in Russia. It is
"there is no official pol- also higher than that of the
icy of anti-Semitism al- average Israeli, and few
though in some instances emigrate from Israel, ac-
Jews have been the subject cording to a two-year study
of discrimination."
by the Falk Institute for
Discussing the Soviet Economic Research.
After one year in Israel,
Union, which was among
the most harshly under one percent of Soviet
criticized countries in the immigrants leave Israel,
report, the department compared to a 12 percent
pointed to "continuing rate among Western olim.
The study did not include
restrictions placed on
emigration leading to the Georgian, Bukkaran and
reduction of Jewish other Asiatic Soviet olim. A
emigration by more than similar survey is being con-
half" in 1980 compared ducted among Soviet
Jewish dropouts in the U.S.
with 1979.
It noted "such human — mainly of European ori-
rights activists as Ida Nudel
gin.
By JOSEPH POLAKOFF
-
'braindrain.' Jewish sources
estimate that there are still
over 200,000 Jews holding
letters of invitation from Is-
rael, which are needed to
apply to emigrate."
In its report on Romania,
the State Department said,
"Romania maintains a tight
emigration policy and has
strict limitations on politi-
cal expression and religious
activities outside of offi-
cially designated church
buildings." Among recog-
nized religious groups are
the "Islamic and Jewish
religions" and "people be-
longing to these recognized
religions may attend reli-
gious services freely."
The report added,
"There is no rabbinical
seminary and the rabbis
must be trained in
foreign countries. The
Communist Party advo-
cates atheism and as a re-
sult, a Party member who
attends religious services
is unlikely to progress
within the Party
structure."
In another passage, the
report said that "The
Romanian government dis-
courages emigration and
contends that a Romanian
does not have the right to
move permanently from his
native land." But the gov-
ernment's policy allows for
family reunification and for
the emigration of Jews and
ethnic Germans.
"Largely due to emigra-
tion, the Jewish population
of Romania has declined
from approximately
450,000 people at the close
of World War II to about
35,000 today, according to
records of the Romanian
Jewish community."
In its report on Iraq, the
State Department said,
"The size of the Jewish
community in Iraq is be-
lieved to number fewer than
300, composed mainly of
older people. The extent of
their community's religious
activity is not known." In
another context, the report
said that the Iraqi govern-
ment "pursues a policy
aimed at assimilating its
various ethnic and religious
groups, including the
Jewish minority."
A report on Iran was
not included, the Senate
Foreign Relations Com-
mittee said, "because
sensitive negotiations for
the release of the Ameri-
can hostages from Iran
were under way at the
time these reports were
submitted." It added that
the State Department will
submit a report on Iran
"shortly."
With respect to East
Germany, the report said
"The very small Jewish
community receives gov-
ernment financial support
for its activities, including
the building and mainte-
nance of synagogues and
the maintenance of an old
age home. There are no
Jewish schools and no resi-
dent rabbi."
LARRY FREEDMAN
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