The US Undersecretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Brian Nichols, recalled at the beginning of the year the “more than 600 political prisoners” that he denounced exist in Cuba and demanded their release.
“As we mark the beginning of the new year, more than 600 political prisoners will spend the day behind bars in Cuba,” Nichols said in a message posted on Twitter.
These Cubans are imprisoned for “aspiring to greater freedom and respect for human rights,” he assured. “We call on the Cuban government to release those convicted for demonstrating freely,” he added.
Last week, Nichols also spoke out on human rights in Cuba, in particular on those detained for having participated in the protests on July 11.
More than 150 Cubans across the country face up to 25 years in prison in judicial farces carried out between December 13 and 24, Nichols lamented. “The Government of Cuba has to stop imposing these unjust sentences on peaceful protesters,” he said.
Amnesty International indicated last November that “hundreds of people remain in custody for demonstrating peacefully in Cuba in protests that include the massive demonstrations on July 11.”
“The cases of the prisoners of conscience Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, José Daniel Ferrer García, Esteban Rodríguez and Maykel Castillo Pérez represent only a tiny fraction of the total number of people who are detained exclusively for their political, religious or other beliefs, without having used or advocated violence, “Amnesty said.
