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The organization Amnesty International (AI) demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners in Cuba, following the announcement this Tuesday of the release of 553 inmates, as part of an agreement reached after negotiations with the U.S. government and the mediation of the Vatican.
“Following the Cuban government's announcement to grant legal benefits to 553 individuals, we demand the immediate release of all those unjustly imprisoned for exercising their rights in Cuba, particularly those who are prisoners of conscience,” stated in a statement circulated through the social network X.
Amnesty International recalled that currently more than 600 individuals are detained for their participation in protests since 2021 and emphasized that the prisoners of conscience Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Castillo Pérez (Osorbo), José Daniel Ferrer García, Loreto Hernández García, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Roberto Pérez Fonseca, Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro, and Luis Robles remain deprived of their liberty.
People imprisoned for exercising their human rights should never have been criminalized, Free them NOW, warned the non-governmental organization.
"The Cuban government must put an end to repression and guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as repeal repressive laws that criminalize peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and association," the statement emphasized.
Less than a week before the end of his term, the administration of United States President Joe Biden removed Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and suspended Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, following mediation by the Catholic Church, in an agreement that included the release of a “significant number of political prisoners” on the island.
According to Martí Noticias, a senior U.S. official stated that this was a unilateral decision that involved a promise from the Havana regime to the Catholic Church to release political prisoners.
Shortly after the White House announced the measures, the Cuban government reported the release of 553 sanctioned individuals.
An official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) indicated that the decision was made in the context of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 declared by Pope Francis and was part of the "close and fluid relations" between the Cuban state and the Vatican, but did not mention the agreement with the U.S. administration.
In December, Washington announced that it was maintaining Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism in its 2023 report. However, the story took a 180-degree turn just days before Trump’s return to the White House.
Biden will also eliminate the so-called "restricted list," a list of entities in Cuba subject to prohibitions on certain financial transactions due to their links to human rights violations committed by the Cuban military.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Release of Political Prisoners in Cuba and the Role of Amnesty International
What has Amnesty International demanded regarding political prisoners in Cuba?
Amnesty International has demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners in Cuba, highlighting the injustice of their imprisonment for exercising their human rights. The organization has emphasized the need to repeal repressive laws and ensure freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly on the island.
How many prisoners will be released following the agreement between Cuba and the United States?
The Cuban government announced the release of 553 people as part of an agreement reached with the United States and mediated by the Vatican. However, it has not been specified how many of the inmates to be released are political prisoners, according to reports from human rights organizations.
How has the decision by the United States to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism influenced the situation?
The decision by the United States to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism was made as part of an agreement that includes the release of a significant number of political prisoners. This measure aims to ease relations between the two countries, although it has been criticized by Republican politicians who deem it unacceptable.
What role has the Vatican played in the release of prisoners in Cuba?
The Vatican has mediated in negotiations between Cuba and the United States, facilitating an agreement that includes the release of political prisoners on the island. The Cuban government has highlighted the "close and fluid" relations with the Holy See and the role of Pope Francis in this process.
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