Cuba: dissident José Daniel Ferrer released

Text by: Domitille Piron

In Cuba, the number one opponent of the Havana regime, José Daniel Ferrer, has been released from prison. He will be placed under house arrest for four and a half years after being imprisoned for 6 months, officially accused of assault. The international community had demanded his release and the dissident has already said he wants to continue his fight against the Cuban regime.

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From our correspondent in Havana ,

" They can condemn me for 1,000 years for false crimes but I will never surrender ," said José Daniel Ferrer when he left prison Friday, April 3. His arrest and trial had been widely denounced by his supporters. Considered a political prisoner, the Cuban justice system nevertheless condemned him to acts of violence and kidnapping, with a group of three other members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, an organization of opponents of the Cuban government.

The dissident reports today facts of torture and constant humiliation during his stay in prison. He will now stay at home, for a sentence of 4 and a half years, which he will not respect, he has already said because his mission, he says, his " duty is to democratize Cuba and end the tyranny ”.

During these six months of imprisonment, the opposition and the Cuban diaspora as well as human rights NGOs, the American secretary of state and the high representative for the foreign policy of the European Union had demanded his release.

This week the Organization of American States also called on the Cuban authorities to release political prisoners in the face of the new coronavirus health crisis.

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