Five Cuban Democracy Activists Banned From Leaving Cuba to Attend EU Seminar

On Saturday 1 February at 6 pm Cuban time, five Cuban democracy activists were stopped at the airport in Havana as they were travelling to Brussels to speak at the European Parliament. They were banned from leaving the country by the Cuban authorities.  

Kirenia Yalit Núñez Pérez, Amaury Pacheco del Monte, Manuel Cuesta Morúa, Maydolis Gonzalez and Cristina Rodriguez Penton were travelling to Brussels to attend a seminar on 4 February at the European Parliament. They were to speak to members of parliament about the EU’s Cuba policy and the human rights violations in Cuba during a seminar hosted by Civil Rights Defenders and MEP José Ramón Bauzá. During the seminar, a report was to be presented including letters from Cuban democracy activists and independent civil society organisations. 

“This is yet another clear example of the continuous human rights violations in Cuba. The situation has become increasingly worse over the last few years. The EU must rethink its Cuba policy and denounce the appalling human rights violations committed by the Cuban authorities”, said Anders L. Pettersson, Executive Director, Civil Rights Defenders.  

The seminar will still be held on 4 February, with the other authors presenting their letters. For more information, follow this link.