PRESS RELEASE

March 11, 2011

Ros-Lehtinen Statement On Release of Cuban  Political Prisoner Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet: Says Peaceful Physician Should Not Have Been Jailed In The First Place

Miami, Florida – Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) issued the following statement after press reports indicated that the well known political prisoner Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet has been released.

Ros-Lehtinen’s statement:

“Although I am pleased that Dr. Biscet has been freed after enduring unspeakable suffering at the hands of his jailers, this peace loving man has served several long term jail sentences simply for seeking to exercise his fundamental human rights and demanding freedom for the Cuban people.

While I am happy for Dr. Biscet, his family, and for the Cuban opposition that this courageous man has been freed, it is important to remind the world that he shouldn’t have been detained in the first place. This corrupt and criminal tyranny that engulfs the Cuban nation has no mercy and they use human lives as pawns to stay in power.

Dr. Biscet was robbed of many years of his life simply because he believed that the 11 million Cubans who lived on the island should have their most basic human rights.

The focus for the U.S. and for all freedom loving nations should be, not on the release of one political prisoner, but on demanding the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience without being forced into exile as some have.  We must demand that the Cuban tyranny provide for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, basic human rights, and hold free, fair, transparent elections monitored by international observers. Until these basic conditions are met, we must increase the pressure on the regime while intensifying our support of those, like Dr. Biscet, who risk their lives for liberty and oppose the repressive Cuban regime.”

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