November 6 2002

Dr Oscar Elias Biscet, a prominent Cuban human rights activist, was released from prison on October 31 after serving a three-year sentence.

According to the Lawton Foundation, a human rights organisation founded by Dr. Biscet, he seemed "stronger spiritually, very determined and ready to carry on in the struggle for human rights."

Dr Biscet was imprisoned for 'dishonouring public symbols', 'public disorder' and 'inciting delinquent behaviour' after he organised a peaceful silent march in support of human rights and freedom for political prisoners in his neighbourhood. He was arrested on November 3, 1999 and served his sentence in a state security facility in Holguin Province, more than a day's journey from his home in Havana. This made it extremely difficult for his wife, Elsa Morejon Hernandez, whom CSW met this February, to visit him.

While in prison, Dr Biscet's Bible was confiscated a number of times as a punishment and he was consistently denied the right to pastoral visits. He was also frequently denied medical treatment, family visits and access to the prison library. He was repeatedly forced to share a cell with mentally ill inmates as a form of punishment. Cuba is one of the only countries in the world that bars the International Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies from visiting its prisons.

Dr Biscet, aged 41, and a devout Christian, is the founder of the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights, which promotes the defence of all human rights through non-violent means. He has modelled his own work and that of the organisation on the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr. In 1994 he was officially accused of 'dangerousness' by the Cuban government and thereafter became a target for state security forces.

CSW's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said: "We are relieved and happy to hear that Dr Biscet has finally been released. However, according to international standards on human rights, he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. He will have the full support of CSW as he and his wife continue their work on human rights and we call on the Cuban government to allow them to do this in peace."