Cuban political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer has issued a harrowing letter from his extreme isolation, denouncing the regime's intent to bury him alive and highlighting the dire conditions faced by inmates. Ferrer, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), urgently called on the international community and human rights defenders to show solidarity with those enduring such conditions.
According to the Cuban American National Foundation on social media platform X, the letter, verified by his siblings, outlines the lack of medical care, food, and hygiene products in Cuban prisons, affecting not only Ferrer but numerous other prisoners who survive in inhumane conditions.
In his message, the Cuban dissident emphasized the importance of a collective commitment to the fight for freedom and fundamental rights. "This is not just about me; it's about all of us being punished for thinking differently," Ferrer stated, underscoring that repression in the island's prisons has intensified.
Ferrer addressed his letter to his wife, Nelva Ortega, and his sister, Ana Belkis, asking them to disseminate it through social media, raising awareness about the plight of political prisoners such as Aníbal Ribeaux, who suffers from severe health issues without receiving medical attention, and Ian Games, who is forced to sleep on the floor and endure hunger.
Ferrer mentioned that some July 11th prisoners are in even worse conditions, malnourished and sick, comparing their food quality to that of Nazi concentration camp victims. "I have been without family visits and telephone communication for over a year and six months. The dictatorship has buried me alive; they want to silence me at all costs. That's why they don't hear my voice, receive my opinions, my reasons, my denunciations about what is happening in this hell. I have made several attempts to send my writings; I don't know if any have succeeded. I hope this one reaches you," he wrote.
"José Daniel Ferrer García never gives up; Daniel Ferrer García is and will die as a staunch defender of freedom, democracy, human rights, justice, and fundamental values: separation of state powers, freedom of expression, press, association, assembly, and peaceful demonstration, a market economy, and social justice," he declared.
Despite the extreme isolation, with more than a year and a half without family visits or phone communication, Ferrer reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights. He expressed solidarity not only with prisoners in Cuba but also with dissidents and persecuted individuals in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Russia, and other countries facing dictatorships and authoritarian regimes.
José Daniel Ferrer García is a Cuban human rights activist born in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba, on July 29, 1970. He founded UNPACU in August 2011, a Cuban dissident organization that peacefully fights against any form of repression of civil liberties in Cuba.
FAQs about José Daniel Ferrer's Imprisonment and Human Rights in Cuba
In light of José Daniel Ferrer's recent letter, many questions arise about his situation and the broader context of human rights in Cuba. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What are the main issues José Daniel Ferrer highlighted in his letter?
Ferrer emphasized the severe lack of medical care, food, and hygiene products in Cuban prisons, along with the intense repression and isolation faced by political prisoners.
Who is José Daniel Ferrer?
José Daniel Ferrer is a Cuban human rights activist and the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU). He has been a vocal opponent of the Cuban regime and has faced severe repression for his activism.
What is UNPACU?
The Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) is a dissident organization founded by José Daniel Ferrer in 2011. It advocates for civil liberties and human rights in Cuba through peaceful means.