WASHINGTON—In response to the release of over 150 political prisoners in Cuba, Freedom House interim Copresident Gerardo Berthin issued the following statement:
“While we are glad to see more than 150 political prisoners reunited with their families, friends, and supporters, many more political prisoners remain unfairly detained, and the Cuban people continue to suffer grave human rights abuses and restrictions on their most basic freedoms.
“Justice requires the release of all political prisoners in Cuba, an end to political imprisonment as a tool for social control, and systemic reforms by the Díaz-Canel regime that guarantee the full exercise of fundamental rights without fear of reprisal. Without those reforms, this release risks perpetuating a revolving door of political imprisonment, wherein the Cuban regime will fill now-empty prison cells with new arbitrarily detained people in the coming weeks and months. Without more substantial change in the regime’s policies, newly released prisoners, like others released before them, face severe restrictions on their freedom, including limits on speech and freedom of movement, and even forced deportation.
“We urge the international community to sustain scrutiny on the human rights situation in Cuba, to continue to press for the full liberation of all political prisoners there, and to bolster support for the Cuban people in their ongoing efforts to achieve a democratic future. Freedom House will continue our efforts to secure freedom for political prisoners in Cuba and around the world.”
Cuba is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2024, and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2024.
