Four members of the Italian Senate, including Umberto Terracini of the Communist Party, were the first to put their signatures today on an appeal on behalf of Soviet Jews and their right to emigrate. The other legislators are Giovanni Spadolini, Leo Valiani and Bruno Visentini. The appeal stated:
“We have learned from highly reliable sources that the already difficult situation of Jews within the Soviet Union, and in particular of those awaiting permission to emigrate, has worsened. People who were waiting to receive visas were again refused. Discrimination against students wanting to register at universities has become more severe and personal persecutions have increased. We denounce with concern the worsening of this situation which Violates the elementary rights of security and personal safety…”
The statement called on “those militants and heads of parties who are always sensitive to violation of the rights of man… to make their influence felt on public opinion and on governmental authorities so that the fundamental liberties envisioned by the Universal Declaration and the Helsinki Accords may be reinstated.”
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