Persecution of Syrian Jews Continues

The approximately 4500 Jews remaining in Syria are still denied basic human rights and some continue to be beaten and imprisoned on various pretexts, it was reported by the Committee of Concern for Minorities in Arab countries, a non-sectarian American group headed by Gen. (Ret.) Lucius D, Clay. According to the Committee, the identity cards of Jews still carry the notation “Misawi” (Jewish) in large red letters on both sides, and Syrian Jews are not allowed to travel freely within the country and cannot go abroad, even for medical treatment. Even Jews with foreign citizenship and passports are not allowed to leave.

The Committee reported further that Jews cannot work in government offices, public companies, or banks, and cannot conduct an export or import business. Government and army personnel have been ordered not to buy in Jewish-owned stores, and Jews cannot sell their houses or other real estate. When they die, the government seizes their property. The secret police maintain headquarters in the Jewish sections of Damascus, Aleppo and Oamishli, checking the residents to make sure they observe a 10 p.m. curfew, the Committee said.

Its information on the current situation of Syrian Jews was obtained from several who recently fled the country and reached Western Europe. They stated that relatives of Jews who manage to get out of Syria were beaten in an effort to get information about the means of escape.

2 MEN, 4 WOMEN, IN CUSTODY

The Syrian military were reported to be holding Albert Elia, the 69-year-old secretary-general of the Lebanese Jewish community, who was kidnapped in Sept. 1971, by the secret police as he was walking to the Beirut synagogue. It is believed that Elia was suspected of aiding Jews who had escaped to Lebanon. Also said to be in custody are two young Jewish men from Damascus – Nissim Katri and Joseph Swed – and four young Jewish women from Aleppo – Henriette, Renee and Yvonne Gindi and their cousin, also named Renee Gindi – all on charges of either having attempted to leave Syria “illegally” or of having aided other Jews to do so.

The escapees confirmed reports of the virtual total ban on travel by Jews outside the country. They cited the case of a Jewish boy, Simon Khabas, 16, who needs special treatment for a heart ailment that is not available in Syria. His parents have repeatedly asked permission for him to go to Beirut for medical treatment. They offered to deposit 20,000 Syrian pounds ($5,264) as a guarantee of his return, but the authorities refused permission for the boy to leave the country. The reported response of one Syrian official was, “So he’ll die – there’ll be one Jew less.”