The U.S. joins the call for the freedom of José Daniel Ferrer.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian A. Nichols, joined this Friday in the international condemnation of the imprisonment since July 11, 2021, of Cuban opposition figure José Daniel Ferrer and nearly a thousand political prisoners in Cuba.

"We join the growing international concern for the health of José Daniel Ferrer and condemn the horrendous conditions that he and other political prisoners are suffering. We call on the Cuban government to release Ferrer and the nearly 1,000 other unjustly detained Cubans," Nichols expressed through a message on social media.

On Thursday, Spanish MEP Francisco Millán Mon also raised his voice in the European Parliament, calling on the European Union (EU) to take concrete actions against the Cuban government.

During his intervention this Wednesday, Millán Mon called for sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations on the island, and reminded everyone of Ferrer's critical situation as an example of government repression.

"The situation in Cuba has not improved. There are significant shortages of food, medicine, electricity, and water, and human rights continue to be disrespected," noted the MEP. "Six months ago, this Parliament approved a resolution regarding the concerning increase in the number of political prisoners in Cuba. A particularly symbolic case is that of José Daniel Ferrer (...) He remains in prison under deplorable conditions and there are serious concerns about his health," he added.

Ferrer, coordinator of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), has been imprisoned several times for his activism and, according to reports, his health has severely deteriorated due to the poor conditions in prison.

The detention of Ferrer, and his situation as one of the most visible political prisoners in Cuba, has prompted numerous international organizations and human rights defenders to call for his release.

"It is urgent to impose sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations on the island and to consider the suspension of political cooperation dialogue with Cuba," concluded Millán Mon.