In March 2003, some seventy-five Cubans were arrested in Cuba as part of a sharp increase in security measures by the Cuban authorities. Those arrested included journalists, economists, doctors, trade unionists and pro-democracy activists. While some were subsequently released, most were subjected to rushed, unfair trials and received long term prison sentences of up to twenty-eight years. Appeals by these prisoners have so far been mostly rejected.
The security crackdown by the Cuban authorities has been widely condemned by the international community. Prisoners of conscience have long since been at the forefront of Amnesty International\'s strategies on Cuba. Prisoners of conscience are considered to be people who have been detained for their beliefs, ethnicity, national or social origins, sex, colour, economic status, birth or other status, who have not used nor advocated the use of violence.
Amnesty International\'s Brighton and Hove Group has been campaigning on behalf of four such imprisoned trade unionists: Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, Nelson Molinet Espino, Lester Gonzalez Penton and Hector Raul Valle Hernandez. These men have been detained for non-violently exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and are thus considered prisoners of conscience.
Amnesty International\'s Brighton and Hove Group, and all signatories below, are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of these four prisoners. We ask that these prisoners be allowed regular access to lawyers, medical care, and relatives. If these prisoners are moved or transferred, or if there is accurate, updated information of the status of these prisoners, we ask that their families be immediately informed.
We urge the Cuban authorities to guarantee all Cuban citizens their due rights of liberty, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and right to peaceful assembly, as laid out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
The Cuban authorities can no longer pretend these men have been forgotten while our momentum continues to grow. We have built an undeniable surge of pressure that forces them to look at the injustice they are committing against these prisoners.
Reached 100 supporters
October 23, 2019
6 Comments
E
Elena Malhotra
18 years ago
Featured
THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS. END THIS INJUSTICE.
K
Karen Rogers
18 years ago
Featured
freedom of speech should be a basic human right everywhere. free these four men.
S
Sarah Novak
18 years ago
Featured
Free them now! they did nothing wrong but try to make their country better. sending prayers.
M
Mark Vega
18 years ago
Featured
its 2014 and these men are still locked up just for speaking their minds. total disgrace.
D
David Shaw
18 years ago
Featured
Disgusting that people get 28 years for being doctors or journalists. let them go home to their families already.
J
Jason Powell
18 years ago
Featured
heard about this from the brighton group. really hope they actually listen this time since it has been way too long.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via
.
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
In March 2003, some seventy-five Cubans were arrested in Cuba as part of a sharp increase in security measures by the Cuban authorities. Those arrested included journalists, economists, doctors, trade unionists and pro-democracy activists. While some were subsequently released, most were subjected to rushed, unfair trials and received long term prison sentences of up to twenty-eight years. Appeals by these prisoners have so far been mostly rejected.
The security crackdown by the Cuban authorities has been widely condemned by the international community. Prisoners of conscience have long since been at the forefront of Amnesty International\'s strategies on Cuba. Prisoners of conscience are considered to be people who have been detained for their beliefs, ethnicity, national or social origins, sex, colour, economic status, birth or other status, who have not used nor advocated the use of violence.
Amnesty International\'s Brighton and Hove Group has been campaigning on behalf of four such imprisoned trade unionists: Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, Nelson Molinet Espino, Lester Gonzalez Penton and Hector Raul Valle Hernandez. These men have been detained for non-violently exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and are thus considered prisoners of conscience.
Amnesty International\'s Brighton and Hove Group, and all signatories below, are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of these four prisoners. We ask that these prisoners be allowed regular access to lawyers, medical care, and relatives. If these prisoners are moved or transferred, or if there is accurate, updated information of the status of these prisoners, we ask that their families be immediately informed.
We urge the Cuban authorities to guarantee all Cuban citizens their due rights of liberty, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and right to peaceful assembly, as laid out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
The Cuban authorities can no longer pretend these men have been forgotten while our momentum continues to grow. We have built an undeniable surge of pressure that forces them to look at the injustice they are committing against these prisoners.
Reached 100 supporters
October 23, 2019
6 Comments
E
Elena Malhotra
18 years ago
Featured
THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS. END THIS INJUSTICE.
K
Karen Rogers
18 years ago
Featured
freedom of speech should be a basic human right everywhere. free these four men.
S
Sarah Novak
18 years ago
Featured
Free them now! they did nothing wrong but try to make their country better. sending prayers.
M
Mark Vega
18 years ago
Featured
its 2014 and these men are still locked up just for speaking their minds. total disgrace.
D
David Shaw
18 years ago
Featured
Disgusting that people get 28 years for being doctors or journalists. let them go home to their families already.
J
Jason Powell
18 years ago
Featured
heard about this from the brighton group. really hope they actually listen this time since it has been way too long.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS. END THIS INJUSTICE.