The European Parliament adopted by 380 votes to 182, with 51 abstentions, a resolution on the case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, ECR and Renew groups.
Human rights defender and opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García was detained on 11 July 2021 in the context of widespread protests in Cuba and has been held in isolation since 14 August 2021. Since March 2023, he has been held incommunicado and his family have received no information about his health and have been denied the right to visit him.
Parliament urged the Cuban regime to immediately and unconditionally release José Daniel Ferrer and all persons politically and arbitrarily detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It condemned:
- the systematic human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by the Cuban regime against protesters, political dissidents, religious leaders and human rights activists;
- the torture and inhuman, degrading and ill-treatment perpetrated by the Cuban authorities against José Daniel Ferrer and the other political prisoners.
Parliament reiterated its call on the Council to apply the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (the EU Magnitsky Act) and adopt sanctions against those responsible for the persistent human rights violations in Cuba.
Moreover, Members reiterated their position regarding the possibility of activating the political dialogue and cooperation agreement’s suspension clause, given that the core human rights clauses of the agreement have been continuously breached by the Cuban regime.