MIAMI, United States. – According to a new report Presented by the Madrid-based NGO Prisoners Defenders, torture is a common and widespread practice in Cuban prisons, especially against political prisoners. The study includes 181 representative cases of the 1,277 Cubans who were detained in the last 12 months.
During the presentation of reportthe director of the organization, Javier Larrondo, assured that “in Cuba all political prisoners are vilely tortured.”
The activist also detailed a series of atrocious practices applied to political prisoners on the Island, including the deprivation of food and liquids, the denial of medical attention, physical abuse, and the imposition of forced labor. According to Larrondo, these methods are applied even to young people between the ages of 17 and 21.
In addition, he highlighted the case of José Daniel Ferrer, who, according to complaints from family members, was forced to remain in his cell in his underwear, suffered sonic attacks, and was kept with a light bulb on for 24 hours. Also mentioned was the case of Gabriela Zequeiraa minor who was subjected to sexual abuse.
The study was presented a few days after the visit to Cuba of the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, who did not address, at least publicly, the issue of political prisoners during his stay.
The members of the European Parliament who participated in the presentation criticized Borrell’s visit to the island, calling it “incompatible” with the serious human rights violations described in the study. Leopoldo López Gil, member of the European Parliament, affirmed that these violations are sufficient reason to review the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Cuban regime, and even suspend the economic aid that the EU provides to the Island. .
Dita Charanzová, vice president of the European Parliament, accused the Cuban regime of torturing prisoners and of siding with “the war criminal [Vladímir] Putin”.
Finally, it was announced that the European Parliament will try to have Borrell appear “as soon as possible” to explain his behavior during the recent visit to Havana.
