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Amnesty International,
27 February 2003.
Amnesty International today issued a public document requesting the
immediate and unconditional release of a number of Cuban individuals on the
grounds that they are prisoners of conscience detained solely for the peaceful
exercise of fundamental freedoms.
"All Cuban citizens must be guaranteed their rights to freedom of
association, assembly and expression. We are extremely concerned at the mass
arrests that took place in February and December 2002 particularly as many
remain imprisoned, some without charge. The majority of those arrested were
detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression, association
or assembly and are considered prisoners of conscience," said Amnesty
International.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Cuban authorities to halt
its practice of detaining those engaged in peaceful dissident activities, and to
reform elements of its national legislation that restrict fundamental freedoms
in violation of international human rights standards.
Full details of the individuals arrested are available in:
CUBA: Continued detentions following
mass arrests in February and December 2002 (AI Index: AMR 25/001/2003)
For more information please call Amnesty International's
press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW.
web: http://www.amnesty.org
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