U.S. Urges Effective Action to Combat Discrimination Against Religion

The American draft of the text of an international convention guaranteeing religious freedom (the details of which were reported in our Bulletin yesterday) was presented to the United Nations Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities by Morris B. Abram, the U.S. member of the Subcommission, which is now in session here. Mr. Abram is also president of the American Jewish Committee.

Under the terms of the draft, countries participating in the convention are expected not only to guarantee full religious freedom to their citizens, but also to combat discriminations related to religious belief. The convention also proposes that member states set up “competent tribunals” of courts which will provide “effective protection and remedies” for those who suffer “acts of discrimination on the ground of religion or belief.”

In presenting his text, Mr. Abram, without mentioning the Soviet Union by name, said: “There is no possible Justification for a State policy which denies or simply makes unavailable religious books, dietary requirements or the right to organize religious bodies and communicate with those of like belief, domestically and abroad. In short, this convention is intended to strike at every single repression of the right to believe or to have no belief, openly, in all the forms that conscience demands–so long as the right to freedom of others and just demands of morality, public order and general welfare in democratic society are respected. Such religious freedom does not weaken the fabric of a State. On the contrary, it strengthens the State in the social order.”

ISRAEL SHARPLY ATTACKS SOVIET UNION FOR DENYING RIGHTS TO JEWS

At today’s session of the Subcommission, Israel sharply attacked the Soviet Union for denying to the Jews of the USSR the same constitutional rights of religious belief and practice permitted by the Kremlin to other religious, national or ethnic groups in the Soviet Union. The attack was voiced by Dr. David Marmor, the Israel Government’s official observer. In accordance with the Subcomission’s rules, Dr. Marmor did not name the USSR specifically but spoke only of an unnamed “great nation.”

Speaking of “the deplorable situation affecting the religious and cultural life of a large Jewish community in a great nation,” Dr. Marmor assured the Subcommission that, in raising this issue, “my Government has no motive other than genuine concern with the treatment of a community of our brethren.” He then said: “The people of Israel have been profoundly disturbed with the very limited opportunities for Judaistic religious observance and Jewish cultural creativity and expression afforded to other religious, national or ethnic communities in that country.”

“Our concern with this denial of opportunities, and of rights guaranteed by the constitution of their country in the spheres of religious and cultural life, he continued, “has been shared by many, including liberal and progressive public opinion in various countries.” He cited facts about the situation of the Jewish population in the USSR, noting that the data came from “official sources.” He enumerated these details:

1. “Only 100 synagogues remain, out of a total of 450 in 1956; there are no schools of any kind to prepare rabbis, except for four students in Moscow leading a precarious existence, after 10 other students had been prevented from attending classes because they were refused permits to reside in the capital.

2. “The existing Jewish congregations cannot associate with each other, nor create a central organization to cater for their religious needs Nor are contacts with Jewish coreligionists abroad permitted.

3. “Jewish believers are also deprived of facilities to produce the ritual objects necessary for the practice of their faith. In 1962, there was a ban on matzoth. They could not be baked publicly, while very few Jews have facilities for baking them at home. Prayer books and other books of religious content cannot be published.”