Press release October 5, 2016
Cuba: Political Repression Grows
The Cuban government has made more than 7,800 politically-motivated arrests in 2016, according to a recent report from a Cuban human rights group.
Washington
In response to a growing number of arbitrary detentions in Cuba and greater intimidation of civil society, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“We are alarmed by the significant increase of arbitrary detentions, secret police raids, and intimidation targeting a wide cross-section of civil society,” said Carlos Ponce, director for Latin America programs. “The international community should demand protection of the Cuban human rights defenders and prodemocracy movements.”
Background:
The Comisión Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional (CCDHRN) reports that there have been more than 7,800 politically motivated arrests in 2016, in many cases with the use of violence. A new report by Instituto Cubano por la Libertad de Expresión y Prensa (ICLEP) documented freedom of expression and the press violations.
Cuba is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2016, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2016, and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2015.