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Praise God for the decision to release of 52 political prisoners in Cuba Praise God for the recent news that the Cuban Government will release 52 political prisoners who were arrested during the Black Spring of 2003. So far twenty have been released and sent, with their families, to Spain. This promise to release prisoners, as a result of negotiations between the Catholic Church and the Cuban Government, only applies to 52 of an estimated 167 political prisoners. Your support of Christians imprisoned in Cuba has been such a blessing to them. Two of the prisoners released, Dr Jorge Luis Garcia Paneque and Normando Hernandez, have been supported by you during their imprisonment – your letters, cards, prayers and campaigning were a source of encouragement and hope to them. Because of your support they knew that they weren’t forgotten. Join us giving thanks for their freedom! While CSW welcomes the release of political prisoners, we remain concerned that the release is conditional on the prisoners leaving Cuba. Some prisoners, including Dr Oscar Elias Biscet, are refusing to be released if it means they have to leave Cuba. Eight Nine other prisoners have taken a similar stand and it is unclear how the Cuban Government will respond. CSW working to free the captives CSW welcomes the release of these prisoners and urges the Cuban Government to free all political prisoners without any restrictions on them. CSW is working as part of a coalition of human rights NGOs across Europe to make sure that the prisoners are not forgotten and that the EU maintains pressure on Cuba to improve its human rights situation.
Dr Jorge Luis Garcia Paneque, a devout Roman Catholic who has featured in Connect & Encourage for year, was among the twenty prisoners released. Your encouragement, prayers and support were a great blessing to him. Normando Hernandez was also released in the group of twenty. You have lobbied for him several times during his imprisonment and he has been a key case highlighted in CSW’s lobbying regarding religious liberty violations in prisons. Dr Oscar Elias Biscet and Victor Rolando Arroyo, both devout Christians who have suffered religious freedom violations while in prison, are both included in the 52 prisoners due to be released. However, they are refusing to be released if it means they have to leave Cuba. Please pray for them as it is unclear how the Cuban Government will respond to this. Pastor Omar Gude Perez is not included in the group of 52 prisoners to be released and he remains in prison. Please continue to pray and encourage his family at this time. |
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