Freedom for All Cuban Political Prisoners

We would like to bring to your attention the state of human rights in Cuba. On March 18, 2003, a crackdown occurred where many peaceful human rights activists—like Oscar Elias Biscet—were arrested. Many remain imprisoned today.

Following the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, an imprisoned Cuban and human rights advocate who was on hunger strike from December 3, 2009-February 24, 2010 demanding his most basic human rights, many have assumed a hunger strike requesting the same basic human rights for political prisoners as Orlando Zapata Tamayo. Some activists, like Guillermo Fariñas and Felix Bonne Carcasses, have even expressed their willingness to die for the cause of freedom and human rights, as did Orlando Zapata Tamayo.

We strongly urge you to demand the release of all individuals who have been arrested and convicted on the basis of their peaceful political activities and their efforts to promote and protect basic human rights in Cuba. In addition, we urge you to demand the prompt medical care of all political prisoners who are suffering from serious medical conditions.

While all Cuban human rights defenders remain in detention, we urge you to ensure that they no longer be subjected to further torture and abuse. According to the international human rights law, all persons held in detention must be treated with humanity and dignity and that they must not be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the UN Body of Principles for the Protection of all Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment). According to the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which Cuba actively participated in drafting and passing, all persons have the right to effective access to participation in the government of their country and in the conduct of public affairs. The Declaration also provides that everyone has the right "freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms."

We call on the Cuban government to recognize the important work of Cuban human rights defenders, cease the persecution of these valiant men and women, and liberate those detained.