MIAMI, United States. – The European Parliament issued this September 19 a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García, who has been imprisoned since July 2021.
The resolution, which was approved with 380 votes in favor, 182 against and 51 abstentions, states that Ferrer has been subjected to extreme isolation and inhumane conditions, which constitutes “degrading treatment and a form of torture.”
In the document, the European Parliament expressed its deep concern about the human rights situation in Cuba. It also highlighted that “José Daniel Ferrer is in a critical condition” and that he has not received the necessary medical attention. It also recalled that the arrest of the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) has been classified as part of the Cuban regime’s “systematic repression” against dissidents and human rights defenders.
The document harshly criticizes the Cuban government for its constant violations of human rights and for the arbitrary imprisonment of More than 1,000 political prisonersincluding minors. In addition, other dissidents sentenced to imprisonment by the regime are mentioned, such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara and Lizandra Gongorawho are also in critical condition.
The European Parliament also urged the Cuban government to immediately end the repression and release all political prisoners. It also reiterated its support for the Cuban people and human rights defenders who “fight for the freedoms that the regime has denied them for decades.” In this regard, the resolution underlines the need for the Cuban regime to initiate an “open and democratic national dialogue” that will allow the country to modernize.
Finally, Parliament urged the Council of the European Union (EU) to apply sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against those responsible for human rights violations in Cuba. It also reiterated the possibility of suspending the Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation between the EU and Cuba, given that the fundamental clauses of this agreement, related to human rights, have been “constantly violated” by the Cuban regime.
Thursday’s resolution joins six others approved by the European Parliament in its ninth legislature (2019-2024) related to the deterioration of the human rights situation in Cuba.
