MIAMI, United States. – Nearly twenty MEPs from the European Parliament groups PfE (Patriots for Europe) and ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) On Tuesday, they presented motions to the European Parliament demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the Cuban opposition leader. Jose Daniel Ferrer Garciaas well as all political prisoners arbitrarily detained on the Island.
The motion, which was presented on September 17, highlights Ferrer’s serious health conditions and condemns the systematic violations of human rights in Cuba.
In this regard, the document highlights that Cuba, under an authoritarian regime, has more than 1,000 political and conscientious prisoners who remain arbitrarily imprisoned. José Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and human rights activist, is one of the most recognized opponents on the Island. His peaceful struggle for a democratic transition has been widely recognized, and in 2020 he was awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, the motion recalls.
The MEPs condemned the inhumane conditions in which Ferrer is being held and claimed that his life is in danger due to the lack of adequate medical care. The motion states that, according to a letter sent to MEPs by Ferrer’s family, his health has seriously deteriorated during his imprisonment, which aggravates his already delicate situation.
“His life is in grave danger due to the prison conditions in which he is being held,” the document warns. In this regard, the Cuban authorities are urged to immediately provide Ferrer with the necessary medical care while awaiting his release.
The motion not only calls for Ferrer’s release, but also strongly condemns the Cuban regime’s repressive policies against protesters, religious leaders, human rights activists and political dissidents. The MEPs stress the lack of religious freedom on the island and reiterate their support for the Cuban people in their fight for human rights.
The document also criticises the inaction of the European External Action Service Association (EEAS) under the direction of Josep Borrellaccusing it of ignoring or minimising complaints from Cuban society. It also calls on the Council of the European Union to impose sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Cuba and calls for the immediate suspension of any type of EU financial aid to the Cuban regime.
Finally, the European Parliament requests the suspension of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the EU and Cubabased on human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime.
